A Dutch expedition vessel, the MV Hondius, carrying suspected and confirmed hantavirus cases will sail to the Canary Islands, Spain’s health ministry announced. The ship had been docked in Cape Verde, where officials assessed which passengers needed urgent evacuation.
Two crew members, including the ship’s reported British doctor, required urgent medical care and were due to be flown to the Canary Islands by hospital aircraft on Tuesday. A third person connected to a German national who died on 2 May was also scheduled for evacuation. Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship operator, said about 149 people from 23 countries remain on board under strict precautionary measures.
Since leaving Argentina around a month ago, three passengers who had been aboard the Hondius have died. The World Health Organization (WHO) has linked seven people to the vessel with hantavirus infections: two confirmed cases and five suspected. The two confirmed infections include a Dutch woman, who is among the deceased, and a 69-year-old UK national who was evacuated to South Africa for treatment. The Dutch woman’s husband and the German national who died are not confirmed cases.
South Africa’s health ministry stated the two confirmed infections are associated with the Andes strain of hantavirus, a form that can—rarely—be transmitted between people in very close contact. The WHO noted hantavirus is usually spread from rodents but acknowledged possible spread among very close contacts aboard the ship, while stressing the risk to the wider public is low.
Spain said remaining passengers would be taken to the Canary Islands, arriving in three to four days, with Gran Canaria or Tenerife being the likely destinations. Officials said Cape Verde lacked the capacity to carry out the operation and that the Canary Islands are the nearest location with the necessary facilities. Spain also cited moral and legal obligations to assist, as several Spanish citizens are among those on board.
On arrival, passengers and crew will be screened, receive any required care, and be helped to continue their journeys home. All transfers and medical interactions will use specially arranged facilities and transport to minimize contact with local communities and protect healthcare workers.