Cruise ship hit by Hantavirus: 3 patients to be evacuated to Netherlands, 1 confirmed in Switzerland
A Hantavirus outbreak has occurred on the cruise ship Hondius, with three patients being medically evacuated to the Netherlands, and one confirmed case in Switzerland. The Andes strain, known for rare human-to-human transmission, has been detected, prompting WHO monitoring.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 21:17
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Johannesburg, 6th, comprehensive foreign report) The cruise ship Hondius, detained at sea due to Hantavirus, is expected to sail to Spain, with 3 patients on board to be medically evacuated to the Netherlands. Meanwhile, South Africa confirmed a deceased person tested positive for a human-transmissible strain, and Switzerland is also treating an infected male.
Reuters reported that the Swiss government stated a returning male who had been on the MV Hondius contracted hantavirus and is currently receiving treatment in Zurich, posing no danger to the general public.
AFP reported that the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that including the patient in Zurich, there are currently 3 confirmed cases of hantavirus and 5 suspected cases.
The other two confirmed cases are a deceased Dutch woman and a British passenger in an intensive care unit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The luxury cruise ship Hondius, carrying nearly 150 people, has so far seen three people who had been on board die, including a Dutch couple and a German.
The cruise ship is currently anchored off the coast of the West African island nation of Cape Verde. The operator, Dutch "Oceanwide Expeditions," issued a statement: "Two infectious disease specialists are rushing from the Netherlands to the Hondius and are expected to serve on board after the cruise ship departs Cape Verde."
Since the outbreak of hantavirus cases, WHO has emphasized that the risk to the general public is very low.
● Human-to-human transmission is rare
Hansavirus is usually transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents or their urine, feces, or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is rare.
However, in previous outbreaks of some hantavirus "Andes strain," limited human-to-human transmission has been observed among close contacts. This strain is prevalent in South America, and the Hondius departed from Argentina, a South American country, in March this year.
Reports seen by Reuters indicate that tests by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa confirmed that the deceased Dutch woman who disembarked and passed away in Johannesburg, and the British male currently hospitalized in Johannesburg, were both infected with the Andes virus strain.
The report stated: "This is currently the only known (hanta) virus strain that can be transmitted from person to person, but such transmission is extremely rare, as previously stated, and only occurs with extremely close contact."
● Close contacts are being traced
The aforementioned Dutch woman who passed away in Johannesburg after disembarking had taken a flight from Saint Helena, British territory, to Johannesburg.
The South African Ministry of Health stated that contact tracing is underway, and 62 contacts have been identified, including crew members and healthcare workers. These contacts will continue to be monitored until the end of the incubation period, and so far, no one has been diagnosed with hantavirus.
Cape Verde was originally the destination for this cruise ship, but the West African island nation has not yet allowed passengers to disembark due to the cruise ship's epidemic.
Late last night, the Spanish Ministry of Health stated that at the request of the WHO and the EU, it agreed to take over the Hondius cruise ship in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles.
● Will the cruise ship dock in the Canary Islands?
Spanish national television (TVE) today quoted sources from the country's Ministry of Health as saying that the cruise ship will dock in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo expressed his opposition to this move and requested an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. However, the final decision-making power rests with the central government.
● Medical evacuation
WHO's Cape Verde representative Ann Lindstrand told AFP earlier today that medical evacuation operations for two sick crew members and another person are "underway." The three are in stable condition, with one being asymptomatic.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus later wrote on social media platform X: "Three suspected hantavirus patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to the Netherlands for treatment."
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the three individuals, Dutch, German, and British respectively, will be sent to European specialist hospitals. (Editor: Yang Chao-yen) 1150506
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(Central News Agency, Johannesburg, 6th, comprehensive foreign report) The cruise ship Hondius, detained at sea due to Hantavirus, is expected to sail to Spain, with 3 patients on board to be medically evacuated to the Netherlands. Meanwhile, South Africa confirmed a deceased person tested positive for a human-transmissible strain, and Switzerland is also treating an infected male.
Reuters reported that the Swiss government stated a returning male who had been on the MV Hondius contracted hantavirus and is currently receiving treatment in Zurich, posing no danger to the general public.
AFP reported that the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that including the patient in Zurich, there are currently 3 confirmed cases of hantavirus and 5 suspected cases.
The other two confirmed cases are a deceased Dutch woman and a British passenger in an intensive care unit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The luxury cruise ship Hondius, carrying nearly 150 people, has so far seen three people who had been on board die, including a Dutch couple and a German.
The cruise ship is currently anchored off the coast of the West African island nation of Cape Verde. The operator, Dutch "Oceanwide Expeditions," issued a statement: "Two infectious disease specialists are rushing from the Netherlands to the Hondius and are expected to serve on board after the cruise ship departs Cape Verde."
Since the outbreak of hantavirus cases, WHO has emphasized that the risk to the general public is very low.
● Human-to-human transmission is rare
Hansavirus is usually transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents or their urine, feces, or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is rare.
However, in previous outbreaks of some hantavirus "Andes strain," limited human-to-human transmission has been observed among close contacts. This strain is prevalent in South America, and the Hondius departed from Argentina, a South American country, in March this year.
Reports seen by Reuters indicate that tests by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa confirmed that the deceased Dutch woman who disembarked and passed away in Johannesburg, and the British male currently hospitalized in Johannesburg, were both infected with the Andes virus strain.
The report stated: "This is currently the only known (hanta) virus strain that can be transmitted from person to person, but such transmission is extremely rare, as previously stated, and only occurs with extremely close contact."
● Close contacts are being traced
The aforementioned Dutch woman who passed away in Johannesburg after disembarking had taken a flight from Saint Helena, British territory, to Johannesburg.
The South African Ministry of Health stated that contact tracing is underway, and 62 contacts have been identified, including crew members and healthcare workers. These contacts will continue to be monitored until the end of the incubation period, and so far, no one has been diagnosed with hantavirus.
Cape Verde was originally the destination for this cruise ship, but the West African island nation has not yet allowed passengers to disembark due to the cruise ship's epidemic.
Late last night, the Spanish Ministry of Health stated that at the request of the WHO and the EU, it agreed to take over the Hondius cruise ship in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles.
● Will the cruise ship dock in the Canary Islands?
Spanish national television (TVE) today quoted sources from the country's Ministry of Health as saying that the cruise ship will dock in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo expressed his opposition to this move and requested an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. However, the final decision-making power rests with the central government.
● Medical evacuation
WHO's Cape Verde representative Ann Lindstrand told AFP earlier today that medical evacuation operations for two sick crew members and another person are "underway." The three are in stable condition, with one being asymptomatic.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus later wrote on social media platform X: "Three suspected hantavirus patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to the Netherlands for treatment."
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the three individuals, Dutch, German, and British respectively, will be sent to European specialist hospitals. (Editor: Yang Chao-yen) 1150506
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship of yours is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.