A British crew member is in need of “urgent” medical care while another Briton is undergoing treatment in intensive care following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a polar expedition cruise ship in the Atlantic.
The outbreak on the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius, which began a remote expedition voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde on 1 April, has left at least three people dead.
The operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said a Dutch husband and wife as well as a German national had died.
The confirmed cases include a British passenger receiving care in South Africa and a Dutch woman who died on 27 April after disembarking.
The British passenger remains in a “critical but stable” condition after being medically evacuated to South Africa, where they are being treated in intensive care.
The operator said two crew members – one British and one Dutch – were continuing to show “acute respiratory symptoms”, one mild and one severe.
The WHO said a total of seven hantavirus cases – two confirmed and five suspected – had been identified on the cruise ship so far.
Key Points
- Seven cases of hantavirus identified on cruise ship, WHO says
- British crew member needs ‘urgent’ care after suspected hantavirus outbreak
- US travel blogger posts tearful Instagram video from hantavirus-struck cruise ship
- What are the symptoms of hantavirus?
- Three dead and five ill in hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship
When did hantavirus start in the west?
06:00 , Graig GraziosiHantavirus first emerged in the west in 1993 in the southeastern U.S.
Before that, hantavirus was associated with diseases that were exclusively found in the Eastern Hemisphere, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
The 1993 outbreak was initially believed to be a mystery flu before researchers determined the illness was actually a novel strain of hantavirus.
The disease was linked to rodents living near the homes of the people who fell ill in 1993. Since then, exposure to the saliva, feces, and urine of rodents has been recognized as the primary means of hantavirus transmission.
Most hantavirus strains rarely transmit between humans, though one strain — the Andes virus — can leap from human to human, according to the New York Times.
Seven cases of hantavirus identified on cruise ship, WHO says
05:30 , Shweta SharmaThe World Health Organisation says that seven cases of hantavirus have been identified as part of the outbreak on a luxury cruise ship held off West Africa carrying mostly British, American and Spanish passengers.
"As of 4 May 2026, seven cases (two laboratory confirmed cases of hantavirus and five suspected cases) have been identified, including three deaths, one critically ill patient and three individuals reporting mild symptoms," the WHO said.
The WHO said it was working with local authorities and cruise operator Oceanwide on a “full public health risk assessment.”
“Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing, and epidemiological investigations,” the WHO said.
“Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew.”
WATCH: What is hantavirus? Infectious disease expert explains after cruise ship deaths
05:00 , Graig GraziosiBritish foreign office says consular teams active in UK, South Africa, Spain and Portugal
04:30 , Shweta SharmaThe government says consular teams from the foreign office have been activated across the UK, South Africa, Spain and Portugal to support British nationals caught up in the cruise ship outbreak.
“This is a deeply worrying time for all those on board the MV Hondius and the families of those affected by the hantavirus outbreak,” it said in a statement.
It added that “we are working around the clock with our international partners, including the cruise ship operator”.
“FCDO teams are also in contact with the family of a British man who was a passenger on the ship and is now in hospital in South Africa.”
World Health Organization response to the suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard cruise ship
04:00 , Graig GraziosiThe World Health Organization is working with Oceanwide Expeditions, the company that owns the MV Hondius, to respond to a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the ship.
“Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing, and epidemiological investigations. Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew. Sequencing of the virus is also ongoing,” the WHO said on Sunday.
Oceanwide Expeditions said in a statement that it was considering sailing elsewhere to potentially offload its passengers and crew.
“The option of sailing on to Las Palmas or Tenerife are being considered to be the gateway for disembarkation, where further medical screening and handling could take place,” the company said.
British crew member needs ‘urgent’ care after suspected hantavirus outbreak
03:57 , Shweta SharmaA British crew member is in need of urgent medical care while another passenger from the UK remains critical but in stable condition after an outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship.
The confirmed cases include a British passenger receiving care in South Africa and a Dutch woman who passed away on 27 April after disembarking.
The company said in a statement on Monday that two staff members, one British and one Dutch, were continuing to show “acute respiratory symptoms”, one mild and one severe.
Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed the British tourist remains in a “critical but stable” condition after being medically evacuated to South Africa on 27 April, where they are being treated in an intensive care unit in Johannesburg.
The company added that guests will not be disembarking in Cape Verde, except for three individuals who will be medically evacuated.
“Dutch authorities are actively preparing a medical evacuation of the two symptomatic individuals along with the individual associated with the guest that passed away,” a company statement said.
“This will involve two specialised aircraft equipped with the necessary medical equipment and staffed by trained medical crews.
“This is not confirmed and is subject to change.”
The journey of the MV Hondius mapped
03:00 , Graig Graziosi.png?trim=173%2C0%2C173%2C0)
Husband and wife were first deaths connected to the cruise ship
01:00 , Graig GraziosiThe first passenger of the MV Hondius to die amid a hantavirus outbreak was a 70-year-old Dutch man.
He developed a fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhea just weeks into their trip aboard the ship.
The man died on the vessel. His 69-year-old wife helped to take his body off the ship when it arrived at the island of St. Helena.
However, she later fell ill and required evacuation to South Africa, where she died in a Johannesburg hospital.
A German passenger died over the weekend. The only confirmed case of the hantavirus aboard the ship has been a 69-year-old British man who fell seriously ill and required evacuation for medical treatment in Johannesburg.
Three people died of hantavirus in Northern California last month
Tuesday 5 May 2026 00:00 , Graig GraziosiLast month, three people in Northern California died after contracting the hantavirus.
The virus is currently forcing the occupants of the MV Hondius, a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, into isolation after three people died.
All three deaths in Northern California occurred in the town of Mammoth Lakes, which has a population of just over 7,000.
Hantavirus is typically spread through the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected mice. It does not transmit easily between humans, and the WHO said there is a low risk of the disease spreading to the general population beyond the cruise ship.
Only one hantavirus case has been confirmed
Monday 4 May 2026 23:00 , Graig GraziosiAs of Monday afternoon, only one case of hantavirus has been confirmed among the passengers of the MV Hondius.
However, two other individuals aboard the ship have fallen ill, and a British passenger, 69, is fighting for his life in intensive care in Johannesburg.
WATCH: Inside the science of hantavirus transmission: 'Virus not known for human-to-human transmission'
Monday 4 May 2026 22:10 , Graig GraziosiHantavirus cruise ship outbreak prompts Polymarket to open up betting on new pandemic
Monday 4 May 2026 21:25 , Graig GraziosiPolymarket, a popular predictions market allowing users to wager on various predictions, is now taking bets on whether or not there will be a hantavirus pandemic in 2026.
The market opened on May 4 after a cruise ship carrying a total of 149 went into lockdown due to a hantavirus risk. Three people aboard the ship have already died, and others are seriously ill.
Polymarket’s official X page promoted the market on social media. Currently, only 5 percent of bettors believe there will be a pandemic.
Hantavirus does not transmit between humans easily, and is typically spread through the urine, feces and saliva of infected rodents.
Evacuations planned for two sick aboard cruise ship
Monday 4 May 2026 20:45 , Graig GraziosiMedics are reportedly planning to evacuate two people who have fallen ill aboard the MV Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak has already killed three.
Reuters reported the planned evacuation on Monday afternoon.
U.S. travel blogger posts tearful Instagram video from hantavirus-struck cruise ship
Monday 4 May 2026 20:27 , Graig GraziosiAn American travel blogger shared a teary social media update while trapped aboard the cruise ship at the center of a suspected hantavirus outbreak.
Three people have died amid the suspected outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, which departed Ushuaia in southern Argentina on March 20 and was due to arrive in Cape Verde, off the coast of West Africa, on May 4.
Travel blogger Jake Rosmarin, who has over 44,000 followers on Instagram, was aboard the ship when the suspected outbreak, a rare infection passed from rodents to humans, typically through their urine, droppings or saliva, struck. The infection can be fatal as it has no cure.
Read more from reporter Isabel Keane below:
U.S. travel blogger posts tearful Instagram video from hantavirus-struck cruise ship
What to know about hantavirus as illness linked with three deaths on Atlantic cruise ship
Monday 4 May 2026 19:47 , Graig GraziosiThree passengers are dead and an investigation is underway after a suspected outbreak of hantavirus ripped through an Atlantic Ocean cruise ship.
While only one hantavirus infection has been confirmed through testing, five others have also fallen ill on the MV Hondius, which was traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde.
The deceased passengers include a senior Dutch couple and a German national, according to Dutch shipowner Oceanwide Expeditions.
Hantavirus is typically spread from through the urine, feces and saliva of infected rodents and is fatal in nearly 4 out of 10 people who are infected.
Read more from reporter Julia Musto below:
What to know about hantavirus as illness linked with three deaths on cruise ship
Cruise ship operator looking into whether passengers could be screened before disembarking
Monday 4 May 2026 19:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe ship's Netherlands-based operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said it was looking into whether passengers could be screened and disembarked on the islands of Las Palmas and Tenerife.
It was trying to arrange the repatriation of two crew members with symptoms of the disease - one British and one Dutch - along with the body of the German national and a "guest closely associated with the deceased" who does not have symptoms.
"Strict precautionary measures are in process on board," it said.
Risk to wider public is low, WHO says as US travel blogger on board sends tearful message
Monday 4 May 2026 18:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainMedics were working on Monday to evacuate two people with symptoms of the deadly hantavirus after a suspected outbreak on a luxury cruise ship held off West Africa carrying mostly British, American and Spanish passengers, officials said.
The World Health Organisation said the risk to the wider public was low and there was no need for panic or travel restrictions.
But authorities in the island nation of Cape Verde said they had not allowed Dutch-flagged MV Hondius to dock as a precaution.
"We're not just headlines: we're people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home," Jake Rosmarin, a US travel blogger, said in a tearful Instagram video post from the ship on Monday.
"There is a lot of uncertainty and that is the hardest part," he added.
More than 20 Britons trapped on cruise ship amid suspected hantavirus outbreak as Cape Verde blocks it from docking
Monday 4 May 2026 17:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainMore than 20 Britons are stuck on a luxury cruise ship in South Africa which is not allowed to dock due to a suspected hantavirus outbreak onboard.
Almost 150 people, 19 of whom are British passengers and four British crew members, are currently on board the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde on a trip organised by tour company Oceanwide Expeditions.
Three people have died and at least three others are ill, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said, as an investigation has been launched. The UN’s agency said that at least one case of hantavirus had been confirmed on Monday.
Read more here:
More than 20 Britons trapped on cruise ship amid suspected hantavirus outbreak
German foreign ministry confirms one dead after hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship was German
Monday 4 May 2026 16:14 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe German foreign ministry said that on Monday that one of the people who died from a suspected hantavirus infection after an outbreak on a cruise ship was a German national, confirming information from shipowner Oceanwide Expeditions.
19 British passengers aboard cruise ship
Monday 4 May 2026 15:25 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAccording to Oceanwide Expeditions, there are currently 19 British passengers and four British crew members aboard the cruise ship, where there is a suspected Hantavirus outbreak.
There are a total of 149 people on board, representing 23 different nationalities.
Two crew members symptomatic on board as Cape Verde withholds disembarkation approval
Monday 4 May 2026 14:40 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTwo crew members on board the MV Hondius are among those showing symptoms of hantavirus, Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed, as Cape Verdean authorities have yet to authorise their disembarkation or medical screening.
"The priority of Oceanwide Expeditions is to ensure that the two symptomatic individuals on board receive adequate and expedited medical care," the company said.
What are the symptoms of hantavirus?
Monday 4 May 2026 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSymptoms of hantavirus vary depending on which syndrome it causes, but both can be severe.
HPS, which affects the lungs, typically begins one to eight weeks after exposure. Early symptoms include fatigue, fever and muscle aches — particularly in the thighs, hips, back and shoulders. These can progress rapidly to breathing difficulties as the lungs fill with fluid.
HFRS, which affects the kidneys, usually develops within one to two weeks of exposure, though in rare cases it can take up to eight weeks. Initial symptoms come on suddenly and include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea and blurred vision.
The WHO has said the virus requires "careful patient monitoring, support and response."
Third person who died aboard hantavirus outbreak cruise ship was German, shipowner says
Monday 4 May 2026 13:12 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe third person who died on a cruise ship dealing with a suspected hantavirus outbreak was a German national, a spokesperson for shipowner Oceanwide Expeditions said in a statement on Monday.
The statement also said that hantavirus had so far only been confirmed in the case of a British man being treated in South Africa and that the ship, currently anchored in front of Cape Verde, was considering sailing to Las Palmas or Tenerife for disembarkation.
Dutch authorities looking to repatriate two ill passengers from cruise ship
Monday 4 May 2026 12:13 , Maryam Zakir-HussainDutch authorities have agreed to organise efforts to repatriate two individuals on the cruise ship with symptoms of Hantavirus.
In a statement, Oceanwide Expeditions said: “Dutch authorities have agreed to lead a joint effort to organise the repatriation of the two symptomatic individuals on board MV Hondius from Cape Verde to the Netherlands.”
The Dutch foreign ministry said it was "busy looking at the possibilities to medically evacuate a few people from the ship”.
"If this can take place, the ministry of foreign affairs will coordinate it," a spokesperson told the AFP.
South Africa says British national critical after hantavirus case on antarctic cruise
Monday 4 May 2026 12:05 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSouth Africa's health ministry said on Monday that two passengers have died and a British national was in critical condition after a Netherlands-based cruise ship was hit by a suspected outbreak of hantavirus.
The ship, carrying about 150 tourists from various countries, had departed Ushuaia, Southern Argentina, for Canary Islands about three weeks ago.
'Risk of hantavirus to the wider public remains low'- World Health Organisation
Monday 4 May 2026 10:55 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe World Health Organisation said on Monday that the risk posed by hantavirus to the wider public remained low after three people died and three fell ill after a Netherlands-based cruise ship was hit by a suspected outbreak of the rodent-borne virus. "
The risk to the wider public remains low. There is no need for panic or travel restrictions," said WHO regional director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, in a statement
How many cases have there been in the suspected outbreak so far?
Monday 4 May 2026 10:22 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe UN’s agency said at least one case of hantavirus has been confirmed.
How does hantavirus spread?
Infections are usually spread by infected rodents’ urine or faeces.
While it is rare, hantavirus can spread between people, according to the WHO.
British cruise ship passenger fighting for life in hantavirus outbreak
Monday 4 May 2026 09:40 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA British passenger is fighting for his life after contracting hantavirus aboard a a cruise ship travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde.
The British national, aged 69, is in intensive care in Johannesburg and has tested positive for the virus, local officials said.
The South African health department said in a statement that the British national fell ill near Ascension Island, another remote island in the Atlantic, after the ship left Saint Helena and was transferred from there to South Africa.
Two crew members symptomatic on board as Cape Verde withholds disembarkation approval
Monday 4 May 2026 09:10 , Stuti MishraTwo crew members on board the MV Hondius are among those showing symptoms of hantavirus, Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed, as Cape Verdean authorities have yet to authorise their disembarkation or medical screening.
"The priority of Oceanwide Expeditions is to ensure that the two symptomatic individuals on board receive adequate and expedited medical care," the company said.
Three people are already dead and one British national in intensive care in Johannesburg. Local health officials have visited the vessel to assess the two crew members but are yet to make a decision on transferring them to medical care in Cape Verde.
Mapped: Journey of the polar expedition ship
Monday 4 May 2026 08:38 , Stuti Mishra.png)
Oceanwide Expeditions statement in full
Monday 4 May 2026 08:05 , Stuti MishraThe operator of the MV Hondius, Oceanwide Expeditions, has released the following statement:
"Oceanwide Expeditions is currently managing a serious medical situation on board the vessel m/v Hondius, located off the coast of Cape Verde. During this voyage, three passengers have passed away. In addition, one passenger is currently being treated in intensive care in Johannesburg, and two crew members on board require urgent medical care.
"As of 23:00 hrs CET on 3 May 2026, no authorization from Cape Verdean authorities has been given to disembark guests requiring medical care or to support with medical screening. Local health authorities have visited the vessel to assess the condition of the two symptomatic individuals. They are yet to make a decision regarding the transfer of these individuals into medical care in Cape Verde.
"The priority of Oceanwide Expeditions is to ensure that the two symptomatic individuals on board receive adequate and expedited medical care. Dutch authorities have agreed to lead a joint effort in organizing the repatriation of the two symptomatic individuals on board m/v Hondius from Cape Verde to the Netherlands. The body of the deceased individual is also planned to be included in this repatriation, along with a guest closely associated with the deceased. This individual is not symptomatic.
"This repatriation depends on many factors, including the authorization and support of local Cape Verdean health authorities for the transfer of individuals requiring medical attention from m/v Hondius. We are in close contact with those directly affected and their families and are providing support where possible.
"The health and safety of all passengers and crew is our highest priority. Oceanwide Expeditions is working closely with local and international authorities, including WHO, RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Disembarkation and medical screening of all guests require coordination with local health authorities, and we are in close consultation with them.
"We are currently establishing the full facts and working on appropriate medical care, screening, and next steps. We will provide a further update as soon as more information becomes available."
Who are Oceanwide Expeditions?
Monday 4 May 2026 07:32 , Simon CalderThe Dutch cruise firm emerged from scientific voyages to the high Arctic archipelago of Svalbard by the Netherlands-based Plancius Foundation.
Oceanwide Expeditions started commercial operations in 1993. It is based in the Dutch port of Vlissingen (Flushing) and specialises in expedition voyages to the polar regions, with the slogan: “Explore the best of Antarctica and the Arctic.”
The fleet comprises three ice-strengthened ships: Hondius, Ortelius, and Plancius.
The company says: “Our expeditions attract independent travellers from around the globe who are characterised by a strong interest in exploring remote regions.”
Passengers are typically aged between their 30s to their 80s. Most are between 45 and 65.
Oceanwide Expeditions sets out the procedure when passengers become unwell – which is largely concerned with Covid infections.
It says: “In event of passengers becoming unwell onboard we will follow a set protocol to keep that person and other guests, crew and staff safe and minimise potential spread of infections.
“Infected passengers (Covid or non) are recommended to stay in their cabins, have meals in their cabins and minimise contact with other passengers and crew. There is no requirement to go into isolation unless strictly indicated by a doctor or medical advisor.”
Cruise operator says Cape Verde has not authorised disembarkation
Monday 4 May 2026 07:30 , Stuti MishraThe operator of the MV Hondius has said Cape Verdean authorities have not yet authorised the disembarkation of passengers requiring medical care, as the ship remains off the coast of Cape Verde with three passengers dead and two crew members requiring urgent medical attention on board.
In a statement, Oceanwide Expeditions said local health authorities had visited the vessel to assess the two symptomatic individuals on board but were yet to make a decision on transferring them to medical care in Cape Verde. One passenger remains in intensive care in Johannesburg.
Dutch authorities have agreed to lead a joint effort to repatriate the two symptomatic passengers from Cape Verde to the Netherlands, the company said, along with the body of one of the deceased and a closely associated guest who is not symptomatic. The repatriation depends on authorisation from Cape Verdean health authorities.
"The priority of Oceanwide Expeditions is to ensure that the two symptomatic individuals on board receive adequate and expedited medical care," the company said. It added it was working closely with the WHO, Dutch health authority RIVM, relevant embassies and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The polar expedition ship at the centre of the Atlantic hantavirus outbreak
Monday 4 May 2026 07:00 , Stuti MishraThe MV Hondius is a Dutch-flagged polar expedition vessel operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, designed for some of the world's most remote waters. The company describes it as the world's first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel, built to navigate ice-strengthened seas around Antarctica and the Arctic.
The 107.6-metre ship typically takes passengers on expedition cruises lasting between 10 and 19 days, with prices starting from around $7,800 per person. Its passengers tend to be adventurous travellers aged between 45 and 65, though the company says guests range from their 30s to their 80s.
On this voyage, the Hondius had departed Ushuaia in southern Argentina — a common gateway to Antarctica — on 20 March, heading north toward Cape Verde off the west coast of Africa. It is now docked in Praia, the Cape Verdean capital, with around 150 tourists from various countries on board, according to South African health authorities.
The Foreign Office said it was closely monitoring the situation and stood ready to support British nationals if needed.
Foreign Office in touch with cruise company on potential virus outbreak
Monday 4 May 2026 06:30 , Stuti MishraThe Foreign Office said it is monitoring reports of hantavirus outbreak aboard the MS Hondius cruise ship.
Here is the ministry statement in full:
"We are closely monitoring reports of a potential hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Hondius and stand ready to support British nationals if needed. We are in touch with the cruise company and local authorities."
What are the symptoms of hantavirus?
Monday 4 May 2026 06:00 , Stuti MishraSymptoms of hantavirus vary depending on which syndrome it causes, but both can be severe.
HPS, which affects the lungs, typically begins one to eight weeks after exposure. Early symptoms include fatigue, fever and muscle aches — particularly in the thighs, hips, back and shoulders. These can progress rapidly to breathing difficulties as the lungs fill with fluid.
HFRS, which affects the kidneys, usually develops within one to two weeks of exposure, though in rare cases it can take up to eight weeks. Initial symptoms come on suddenly and include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea and blurred vision.
The WHO has said the virus requires "careful patient monitoring, support and response."
What is hantavirus?
Monday 4 May 2026 05:40 , Stuti MishraHantavirus is a rare infection passed to humans from rodents — typically through contact with their urine, droppings or saliva, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can also spread through a bite or scratch from an infected rodent, though this is uncommon. While rare, the WHO has said it can also spread between people.
The virus causes two distinct syndromes. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, or HPS, is a severe disease affecting the lungs. Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, or HFRS, affects the kidneys. Both can be fatal. There is no specific treatment or cure, but early medical attention can improve the chances of survival.
WHO confirms one hantavirus case and five suspected on cruise ship as death toll hits three
Monday 4 May 2026 05:33 , Stuti MishraThe World Health Organisation has confirmed one laboratory case of hantavirus and five suspected cases aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic, with three people dead and one in intensive care in South Africa.
"Of the six affected individuals, three have died and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa," the WHO said in a statement, adding that medical care was being provided to passengers and crew and that virus sequencing was ongoing.
The WHO said it was facilitating coordination between member states and the ship's operators for the medical evacuation of two symptomatic passengers, as well as a full public health risk assessment. "Hantavirus infections are typically linked to environmental exposure to infected rodents' urine or faeces. While rare, hantavirus may spread between people, and can lead to severe respiratory illness," it said.
Full story: What we know about hantavirus virus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship
Monday 4 May 2026 05:21 , Stuti Mishra
Three dead and five ill in hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship
Monday 4 May 2026 04:37 , Stuti MishraThree people have died, and five others have fallen ill in a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde.
Two of the dead are a Dutch couple. The man, 70, suddenly developed fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea and died on arrival at the island of St Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic.
The woman, 69, was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a Johannesburg hospital. A third fatality was still on board, according to a source cited by AFP.
A British national aged 69 is in intensive care in Johannesburg and has tested positive for the virus, local officials said.
The outbreak was reported aboard the MV Hondius, a polar cruise ship run by Oceanwide Expeditions carrying around 150 tourists from various countries. The vessel departed Ushuaia in southern Argentina on 20 March and was due to arrive in Cape Verde on 4 May.
