Three People Dead After Hantavirus Outbreak on Atlantic Cruise Ship

Three people have died, and at least one remains in intensive care after a suspected hantavirus outbreak struck passengers aboard the MV Hondius, a polar expedition cruise ship sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed Sunday.

The WHO reported that one case has been laboratory confirmed, with five additional suspected cases. Of the six people affected, three have died, and one is receiving critical care in South Africa.

What Happened?

The MV Hondius, operated by Dutch-based tour company Oceanwide Expeditions, departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on an expedition itinerary that included stops in Antarctica and the Falkland Islands before crossing the Atlantic through Saint Helena, a remote British territory, and continuing toward Cape Verde and ultimately Spain's Canary Islands.

Approximately 150 tourists and a crew of about 70 were on board when passengers began falling ill.

The first person to develop symptoms was a British passenger who fell ill on April 27. He was medically evacuated to South Africa, where he tested positive for hantavirus and remains in critical condition at a private medical facility in Johannesburg. On May 2, a German passenger died aboard the ship, though his cause of death has not yet been established. Two crew members, one British and one Dutch, experienced acute respiratory symptoms requiring urgent care.

South Africa's health ministry initially described the illness as a "severe acute respiratory illness." Laboratory testing on the Johannesburg patient confirmed a positive result for hantavirus. The cause of exposure is still under investigation.

As of Sunday, the MV Hondius was anchored near Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. Cape Verde authorities had not authorized passengers requiring medical treatment to disembark as of late Sunday evening, though local health officials boarded the vessel to assess the situation. Oceanwide Expeditions stated that "the priority is to ensure that the two symptomatic individuals on board receive adequate and expedited medical care."

What Is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a family of viruses primarily transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents through their droppings, urine, or saliva, or by inhaling contaminated dust in areas where rodents are present. Direct bites can also spread infection.

According to the WHO, person-to-person transmission is rare, but it is possible with some strains, particularly the Andes virus found in Chile and Argentina, where the ship originated. The virus can produce severe respiratory illness called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

There is no specific antiviral treatment approved for hantavirus, but early medical intervention significantly improves survival odds. Recognizing symptoms early (fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and respiratory distress) is critical because the virus can progress rapidly to life-threatening respiratory failure.

Different hantavirus strains cause different disease profiles, and investigators are currently working to sequence the specific virus strain involved in this outbreak.

WHO & International Response

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed Sunday that the agency is actively coordinating with the ship's operators and the governments of affected member states. The WHO is facilitating medical evacuations for symptomatic passengers, conducting a full public health risk assessment, and providing support to those remaining on board.

South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases launched contact tracing efforts in the Johannesburg area to determine if anyone who came into contact with the evacuated patients may have been exposed.

Cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions stated that the ship may sail from Cape Verde to Las Palmas or Tenerife in the Canary Islands and dock there. The investigation is ongoing.

Arnold & Itkin's Experience with Hantavirus Cases

Hantavirus cases are uncommon, but when they occur, the consequences are often devastating—and frequently preventable. Arnold & Itkin previously represented the family of an oilfield worker who died from hantavirus after his employer failed to warn him about the virus or take basic precautions to control rodent populations at work facilities in Western Colorado.

The victim, a toolpusher, contracted the virus in September 2019 while working in an area known for hantavirus risk. Despite having written safety policies about hantavirus prevention, the company never informed workers about the danger, never provided training on recognizing symptoms, and allowed mice to infest living quarters and workspaces. When the worker fell ill, he thought he had the flu and tried to work through it. By the time he went to the emergency room, the virus had progressed too far to save his life. He died that night, nearly two thousand miles from his family.

The employer initially offered the family just $200,000, a figure that failed to acknowledge the company's gross negligence. After three years of litigation led by attorneys Caj Boatright and Roland Christensen, a jury awarded the family $103.6 million in compensatory damages and added $105.6 million in punitive damages, for a total verdict of $209 million.

"Hantavirus cases are rare, but we've learned what it takes to win," said Roland Christensen. "After litigating a serious hantavirus wrongful death case to verdict, we know many companies do not take adequate precautions and do not provide the care needed to save victims from the deadly virus."

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this outbreak: the passengers who lost their lives, their families, those still receiving medical treatment, and the crew working to keep everyone safe aboard the MV Hondius. We will continue to follow this story as more details emerge.

If you or a loved one were aboard the MV Hondius, learn about your legal options.