MV Hondius, the Dutch cruise ship with hantavirus outbreak is all set to travel to Canary Islands in Spain soon. The cruise ship was previously in, Cape Verde off the coast of West Africa, was previously instructed to remain in open waters.
Background on the MV Hondius
Operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, the MV Hondius is a luxury cruise ship that initially set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina for Europe. The cruise ship, which has a capacity of 170 passengers, included 88 passengers from 15 countries and 61 crew members from 12 countries.
Inside the Viral Spread Onboard
The luxury ship recorded multiple cases of Hantavirus with 3 casualties, several others ill and multiple suspected cases. As a result, passengers have been confined to their cabins and the crew members have implemented multiple disinfection steps like frequent sanitisation and social distancing in a desperate attempt to control the outbreak.
Arrangements were also made for two of the affected members, one British and one Dutch to be sent to the Netherlands for further care.
Timeline of the Outbreak
A detailed timeline of the Hantavirus outbreak on MV Hondius is mentioned below:
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1st April 2026: The luxury cruise ship departs from Ushuaia, Argentina for Europe with stops planned in Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands.
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5th April 2026: Mild symptoms of the Hantavirus, such as fever and fatigue were reported in a Dutch male passenger, who was aged 70.
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11th April 2026: Six days after initially getting affected, the 70 year old Dutch passenger died onboard after experiencing ‘respiratory distress’.
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24th April 2026: The cruise ship reached St. Helena Island, where repatriation efforts were made for the Dutch victim. His wife, that also accompanied him, subsequently collapsed at the airport.
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26th April 2026: The Dutch woman, died in a Johaneesburg hospital, where she was being treated for Hantavirus.
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27th April 2026: A British passenger onboard became seriously ill and had to be medically evacuated from Ascension Island to South Africa.
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2nd May 2026: While the cruise was on route to Cape Verde, a German passenger died onboard. And the British passenger, who was previously evacucaed was confirmed to be the first laboratory-confirmed case of hantavirus.
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3rd May 2026: The World Health Organisation (WHO) issues a public statement acknowledging the outbreak. The report stated that human to human transmission may have occurred onboard.
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4th May 2026: After WHO’s report, the cruise ship, then tried to dock at Praia, Cape Verde, where it was denied permission from the authorities.
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5th May 2026 – 6th May 2026: Spanish authorities allow the cruise ship to sail to Canary Islands.
Where is the Hantavirus Cruise Now
The luxury cruise ship, which currently has 150 people onboard, is now headed for the Canary Islands. The Spanish Health Ministry said that it was instructed by the WHO and European Union to permit the cruise ship “in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles”.
The health ministry’s statement also added that “Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist these people, among whom are also several Spanish citizens.” Docking at the Canary Islands in Spain will also for repatriation and further care of the remaining passengers.
About Hantavirus
Hantavirus, is a viral infection that usually spreads through the urine and faeces of rodents. Human to human transmission is generally rare.
