Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship raises questions over early crew response

Crew members aboard the MV Hondius are under scrutiny after reportedly assuring passengers that an early fatality linked to a suspected hantavirus outbreak was “not infectious,” as multiple deaths were later confirmed during the voyage.

The Dutch-flagged expedition ship is currently stranded off the coast of Praia, Cape Verde, following the outbreak that has so far claimed three lives, including a Dutch couple and a German national.

Authorities have denied permission for the nearly 148 people on board to disembark due to health concerns.

According to footage circulating online, a crew member can be heard addressing passengers after the first reported death, stating that medical advice indicated no risk of infection.

“One of our passengers suddenly passed away last night,” the crew member said. “I am told by the doctor they are not infectious… The ship is safe when it comes to this.”

However, the situation appears to have escalated in the days that followed, with additional fatalities raising concerns about how the outbreak was initially handled.

A Turkish content creator who had been on board during part of the journey later criticized the ship’s response, suggesting that the severity of the situation may not have been communicated clearly to passengers.

“It turns out the situation was much worse than we were told,” he said in a video shared on social media, adding that precautionary measures such as isolation and distancing were not immediately enforced.

He claimed that passengers continued to gather for meals and group activities even after the first death, potentially increasing the risk of further spread.

The outbreak has also impacted other passengers, with at least one British national reported to be in intensive care in South Africa, while more than 20 British passengers remain on board awaiting further instructions.

Health authorities have yet to confirm whether all cases are directly linked, but the vessel remains under close monitoring as investigations continue into the outbreak and onboard response.