A rare strain of Hantavirus reported to spread on board passengers on a Dutch cruise ship sailed from Argentina toward Antarctica and then across the Atlantic Ocean over several weeks. The ship is currently docked near Cape Verde off the West African Coast and intends to travel to Canary Islands where the passengers could deboard. However, the Canary Islands president has refused the proposal demanding an urgent meeting with Spains PM.
“I cannot allow [the boat] to enter the Canaries,” Fernando Clavijo told Spain’s Onda Cero radio. “This decision is not based on any technical criteria and nor have we been given enough information.”
The South African health ministry has identified the Andes strain responsible for the deaths of two, who have been evacuated from the ship to country. It pressed that transmission of the virus is still rare and it only spreads between people in “very close contact”.
As per repots, a 70 year old Dutch man dies falling ill due to the viral infection in the South Atlantic. Lab tests conducted in South Africa confirmed the death due to Hantavirus infection. Overall, 7 individuals were infected out of which 3 dies, 1 is critically ill and 3 are presenting mild symptoms are on board the MV Hondius cruise.
Over all 150 passengers from 23 different countries boarded the cruise enroute Antarctica. South Africa’s health minister reported that preliminary tests confirmed the strain, which is known for rare human-to-human transmission. The top health organization is working with countries involved and the ship operators to help the passengers on board.
On May 2, 2026, a cluster of passengers with severe respiratory illness was reported to the WHO. Authorities are reportedly tracing nearly 90 individuals who were on the flight carrying a woman who later died in Johannesburg after leaving the ship with Gastro-intestinal symptoms. Her husband is said to have died due to the viral infection on the ship.
The WHO has however, emphasized that the global risk to the public remains very low. “Based on current information, WHO assesses the risk to the global population as low and will continue to monitor and update on the situation,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, said on X.
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