A luxury cruise ship, the MV Hondius, has been stranded off Cape Verde due to a hantavirus outbreak that has resulted in three deaths, including a Dutch couple and a German national. The ship, carrying nearly 150 passengers, is set to depart for Spain on Wednesday after three individuals, including two seriously ill, were evacuated. Spain’s health minister announced that the ship is expected to dock in Tenerife within three days, with healthy passengers repatriated to their home countries.
Upon arrival, the 14 Spanish passengers will be quarantined in a military hospital in Madrid, with the length of quarantine depending on their potential exposure to the virus, which has a 45-day incubation period. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed eight suspected cases, three of which have been laboratory-confirmed. The Andean strain of hantavirus, which can occasionally spread between humans through close contact, has been identified among the victims.
While the outbreak has raised concerns, WHO officials emphasized that the risk to the general public remains low. Passengers on board have been advised to practice social distancing and hygiene measures, maintaining a sense of normalcy despite the circumstances.
