Deadly Hantavirus Strikes Polar Cruise Ship, Killing Three

A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a polar expedition cruise ship in the Atlantic has left three passengers dead and a fourth in intensive care, according to health officials. The World Health Organization confirmed the situation Sunday, reporting one positive case and five suspected infections among those on the MV Hondius, operated by Dutch firm Oceanwide Expeditions. Two of the deceased were a married couple, aged 70 and 69, who fell ill during the voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde. The husband died on the ship, and his wife was evacuated to South Africa, where she later passed away in a Johannesburg hospital. A third fatality remained on board as of Sunday evening. A 69-year-old British national is in critical care in Johannesburg, while two other sick passengers are being considered for isolation in Cape Verde. Hantavirus, typically spread through rodent droppings or urine, can cause severe respiratory distress and hemorrhagic fever. Rare human-to-human transmission is possible. The WHO is coordinating with South African and Cape Verdean authorities and the ship's operator to arrange medical evacuations. The UK Foreign Office said it is monitoring the situation and ready to assist British nationals. The MV Hondius, which can carry around 170 passengers and 70 crew, was near Praia, Cape Verde, on Sunday. Oceanwide Expeditions has not commented on the outbreak. The ship's itinerary included stops in South Georgia and Saint Helena before heading to the Canary Islands.