Hantavirus Confirmed Patient Flew After Disembarking Cruise Ship; WHO Tracing Fellow Passengers
Following the death of a hantavirus-confirmed patient who flew after disembarking a cruise ship, WHO is tracing fellow passengers. Multiple cases and deaths have been confirmed on the cruise ship, with potential human-to-human transmission.
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- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 21:40
- 🔍 Collected: May 5, 2026 at 22:01 (21 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 5, 2026 at 22:04 (2 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Geneva, 5th, comprehensive foreign report) The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that after a passenger disembarked from the cruise ship Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak was suspected, she took a flight from British Saint Helena Island to Johannesburg, South Africa, and subsequently died of hantavirus. WHO is now attempting to contact fellow passengers on the same flight.
According to Agence France-Presse, the Dutch female cruise passenger showed "gastrointestinal symptoms" when she disembarked in Saint Helena on April 24.
WHO stated that her symptoms worsened during her flight to Johannesburg, and she passed away after arriving at the emergency room on April 26. A PCR test confirmed on May 4 that she was infected with hantavirus.
WHO emphasized that contact tracing has now been initiated for passengers on the same flight.
According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch cruise operator, the female passenger's husband died on the cruise ship on April 11, and she disembarked with his remains in Saint Helena on April 24.
WHO also stated that as of May 4, 2026, seven cases have been identified (including 2 laboratory-confirmed hantavirus cases and 5 suspected cases), with 3 deaths and 1 severe case. Three individuals reported mild symptoms.
Among the identified cases, three individuals are no longer on the ship, while four others are still on board, including a German passenger who died on May 2.
The Hondius is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, a West African island nation, with personnel from 23 countries on board, including passengers from the UK, Spain, and the US, and Filipino crew members. WHO stated that there are currently 147 people on the cruise ship.
WHO has stated that hantavirus is a rare but severe and potentially fatal disease, primarily transmitted through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. However, human-to-human transmission has also occurred in past outbreaks.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, told reporters today: "We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission among close contacts [on the cruise ship]."
She added that the first person to fall ill was likely infected before boarding the cruise ship. (Compiler: Yang Chao-yen) 1150505
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(Central News Agency, Geneva, 5th, comprehensive foreign report) The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that after a passenger disembarked from the cruise ship Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak was suspected, she took a flight from British Saint Helena Island to Johannesburg, South Africa, and subsequently died of hantavirus. WHO is now attempting to contact fellow passengers on the same flight.
According to Agence France-Presse, the Dutch female cruise passenger showed "gastrointestinal symptoms" when she disembarked in Saint Helena on April 24.
WHO stated that her symptoms worsened during her flight to Johannesburg, and she passed away after arriving at the emergency room on April 26. A PCR test confirmed on May 4 that she was infected with hantavirus.
WHO emphasized that contact tracing has now been initiated for passengers on the same flight.
According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch cruise operator, the female passenger's husband died on the cruise ship on April 11, and she disembarked with his remains in Saint Helena on April 24.
WHO also stated that as of May 4, 2026, seven cases have been identified (including 2 laboratory-confirmed hantavirus cases and 5 suspected cases), with 3 deaths and 1 severe case. Three individuals reported mild symptoms.
Among the identified cases, three individuals are no longer on the ship, while four others are still on board, including a German passenger who died on May 2.
The Hondius is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, a West African island nation, with personnel from 23 countries on board, including passengers from the UK, Spain, and the US, and Filipino crew members. WHO stated that there are currently 147 people on the cruise ship.
WHO has stated that hantavirus is a rare but severe and potentially fatal disease, primarily transmitted through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. However, human-to-human transmission has also occurred in past outbreaks.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, told reporters today: "We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission among close contacts [on the cruise ship]."
She added that the first person to fall ill was likely infected before boarding the cruise ship. (Compiler: Yang Chao-yen) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.