The cruise ship at the heart of a suspected hantavirus outbreak will sail to the Canary Islands, where Spain will receive it "in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles”, its health ministry said.
Global health authorities have said the suspected outbreak may be transmitting between passengers on board the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, but maintained the risk to global health is low.
It is currently off the coast of Cape Verde, where it is hoped the medical evacuation of a British crew member, along with a Dutch colleague and a passenger, will take place.
Operator Oceanwide Expeditions said that three people, two needing urgent care and a person associated with the guest who died on 2 May, will be evacuated to the Netherlands.
After that point, the vessel will begin repositioning towards the Canary Islands, which will take three days of sailing, with passengers on board.
"The World Health Organization has explained that Cape Verde is unable to carry out this operation," the Spanish health ministry said. "The Canary Islands are the closest location with the necessary capabilities. Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist these people, among whom are also several Spanish citizens."
A total of seven suspected cases have been identified – including three deaths.
Key Points
- Medics to board ship and evacuate two infected passengers, WHO says
- British crew member needs ‘urgent’ care after suspected hantavirus outbreak
- Seven cases of hantavirus identified on cruise ship, WHO says
- The journey of the MV Hondius mapped
- Govt 'putting plans in place' for Britons on ship, PM says
Full story: British crew member to be airlifted from stricken cruise ship amid suspected hantavirus outbreak
03:00 , Daniel Haygarth
UK crew member to be airlifted from stricken cruise ship amid hantavirus outbreak
'Likely that further ongoing transmission will be limited'
02:00 , Daniel HaygarthMark Fielder, professor in medical microbiology at Kingston University London, said: “With the current understanding of the ongoing infection and the likelihood that stringent infection control measures are being implemented on board the vessel, it is likely that further ongoing transmission will be limited.
“The isolation of infected patients, regular handwashing, monitoring of close contacts, and the application of infection control measures will all be critical to limiting and halting onward spread of the disease.
“Once the ship docks it is likely that arrangements will be made for the remaining passengers and crew to be medically assessed and then be taken into a period of quarantine and monitoring to ensure the control of any infection and provide early medical intervention where needed.”
US travel blogger posts tearful Instagram video from hantavirus-struck cruise ship
01:00 , Daniel HaygarthAn 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.
“I am currently on board the MV Hondius, and what’s happening right now is very real for all of us here,” Rosmarin said in a video shared Monday on Instagram. “We’re not just a story, we’re not just headlines. We’re people. People with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.”
“There’s a lot of uncertainty, and that’s the hardest part,” Rosmarin added.
Read more:
US travel blogger posts tearful Instagram video from hantavirus-struck cruise ship
WHO notes 7 cases in all in its latest update
23:59 , Dan HaygarthWHO said Tuesday that it's looking at seven cases in all — three people who have died, one critically ill passenger who was previously taken off the ship, and three onboard reporting mild symptoms.
Two of the cases — a woman who died and the evacuated man — tested positive for hantavirus.
A Dutch man was the first death, on April 11. His body was taken off the vessel nearly two weeks later, on the British territory of St. Helena, some 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) off the African coast, according to South Africa's Department of Health.
His wife traveled by plane from St. Helena to South Africa; she collapsed at a Johannesburg airport and died at a hospital on April 26, according to WHO and the South African Department of Health.
The ship sailed on to Ascension Island, an isolated Atlantic outpost about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) to the north, where a sick British man was taken off the ship and evacuated first to Ascension Island and then to South Africa by plane. He is in intensive care in a South African hospital, according to WHO.
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, said the organization is investigating possible human-to-human transmission on the ship, and that officials suspect the first infected person likely contracted the virus before boarding. She said officials have been told there are no rats on board.
Officials in Argentina — where hantavirus led to 28 deaths nationwide last year, according to the health ministry — said they confirmed no passengers had symptoms when the Hondius departed. Symptoms can appear up to eight weeks after exposure, officials have said.
In South Africa, authorities said they have started contact tracing — another practice used extensively in the coronavirus pandemic. But officials have emphasised that the chance of a major public health threat is low.
'We’re putting plans in place for their safe onward travel', says Starmer
23:00 , Dan HaygarthMy thoughts are with those affected by the hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 5, 2026
We are working closely with international partners to support British nationals on board and we’re putting plans in place for their safe onward travel.
The risk to the wider public remains…
US travel blogger comes to defence of hantavirus-struck cruise ship and says vessel is clean with strong biosecurity
22:15 , Dan HaygarthAn American travel blogger stuck aboard the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship defended the vessel’s cleanliness, stating that the ship is “maintained to a very high standard.”
Three people have died, and several others have fallen ill on the MV Hondius following the outbreak of hantavirus, a rare, rodent-borne illness. Global health authorities suspect the first person caught the virus before boarding the ship, and later transmitted it to other passengers.
Only two cases of the virus, which is passed from rodents to humans through their droppings, have been confirmed by health authorities, and officials maintain that the risk to global health is low.
Travel blogger Jake Rosmarin has been documenting his time aboard the illness-stricken ship, telling The Independent in a statement that aside from the two confirmed cases, the other passengers on board are “doing well” and remain “in good spirits.”
Read more:
US travel blogger comes to the defense of hantavirus-struck cruise ship
What is hantavirus?
22:00 , Daniel HaygarthHantavirus infections, which are usually spread by infected rodents’ urine or faeces, can lead to severe respiratory illness and can sometimes be fatal.
While it is rare, hantavirus infections can spread between people, according to the WHO.
There is no specific treatment or cure, but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive medical attention early.
Spain confirms it will receive hantavirus-hit cruise ship in Canary Islands
21:58 , Dan HaygarthThe Spanish Health Ministry confirmed on Tuesday evening it would receive the MV Hondius in the Canary Islands "in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles."
Once in the Canary Islands, medical teams would examine and treat all passengers and crew and transfer them to their countries, the statement said.
"The World Health Organization has explained that Cape Verde is unable to carry out this operation," the health ministry said.
"The Canary Islands are the closest location with the necessary capabilities. Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist these people, among whom are also several Spanish citizens."
Cruise ship passengers infected by hantavirus to be evacuated soon, Cape Verde says
21:38 , Daniel HaygarthPassengers on a luxury cruise ship who have been infected with hantavirus are expected to be evacuated in the coming hours in two air ambulances, Cape Verde's health ministry said on Tuesday evening.
One of the air ambulances is already in the Atlantic archipelago located off West Africa and the second aircraft is expected to arrive shortly, the ministry said in a statement.
Watch: British crew member needs urgent care as suspected hantavirus outbreak hits Atlantic cruise
21:30 , Dan Haygarth19 British nationals listed as being passengers
21:12 , Dan HaygarthSome 19 British nationals were listed as passengers on the ship, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, with four British crew members, PA reports.
Passengers are confined to their cabins while “disinfection and other public health measures are carried out”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
The crew members are said to need “urgent medical care” after having acute respiratory symptoms, according to Oceanwide Expeditions.
Meanwhile the British passenger struck down by hantavirus is “understood to be improving” but remains in intensive care in Johannesburg after being medically evacuated on 27 April.
A total of seven suspected cases have been identified – including three deaths.
Two of these cases have been confirmed as hantavirus.
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, from the WHO, said: “As of today, seven individuals of the 147 passengers and crew have been reported ill, sadly, three have died.
“One patient is in intensive care in South Africa, although we understand that this patient is improving while two patients are still on board the ship and are being prepared for medical evacuation to the Netherlands for treatment.”
Passengers to remain on board for days
20:04 , Daniel HaygarthBritons stuck on a cruise ship linked to a suspected hantavirus outbreak will have to wait on board for a number of days, it has emerged.
The vessel is currently off the coast of Cape Verde, where it is hoped the medical evacuation of a British crew member, along with a Dutch colleague and a passenger, will take place.
In an update on Tuesday, tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions said there is still not an “exact timeline” for when the evacuation to the Netherlands will happen.
But the ship will move on once the evacuation has taken place, with at least three days sailing to the Canary Islands, the company said.
Passengers speak about life on board amid outbreak
19:54 , Dan Haygarth"Our days have been close to normal, just waiting for authorities to find a solution," passenger Qasem Elhato, 31, told AP.
"But morale on the ship is high and we're keeping ourselves busy with reading, watching movies, having hot drinks and that kind of things."
Helene Goessaert, another passenger, told Belgian broadcaster VRT that everyone onboard is "in the same boat, literally."
"You don't embark on a trip with the idea that one of your fellow passengers won't make it," she said.
"We receive information at regular intervals. It is accurate. For the rest, it is a waiting game," she added. "Today we received fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. That was very important to us."
UK government putting 'plans in place' for the onward travel of Britons stuck
19:19 , Dan HaygarthThe Government is putting “plans in place” for the onward travel of Britons stuck aboard a cruise ship hit by a suspected hantavirus outbreak, the prime minister said earlier.
In a post on X, Sir Keir Starmer said: “My thoughts are with those affected by the hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius.
“We are working closely with international partners to support British nationals on board and we’re putting plans in place for their safe onward travel.
“The risk to the wider public remains very low – protecting the British people is our number one priority.”
Update from onboard, specialised aircraft for evacuation of three people en route to Cape Verde
18:53 , Dan HaygarthTour operator Oceanwide Expeditions has issued the following update about evacuations:
- The medical evacuation of two individuals currently requiring urgent medical care, and the individual associated with the guest who passed away on 2 May, will occur using two specialised aircraft that are en route to Cape Verde. From here, the patients are to be medically evacuated to the Netherlands. At this stage, we do not have an exact timeline.
- Once these three individuals have been safely transferred from the vessel and are in transit to the Netherlands, the m/v Hondius will begin repositioning. Our plan is to proceed to the Canary Islands, either Gran Canaria or Tenerife, which will take 3 days of sailing. Discussions are ongoing with relevant authorities. This will be shared when concrete plans are available.
'Likely that further ongoing transmission will be limited'
18:48 , Dan HaygarthMark Fielder, professor in medical microbiology at Kingston University London, said: “With the current understanding of the ongoing infection and the likelihood that stringent infection control measures are being implemented on board the vessel, it is likely that further ongoing transmission will be limited.
“The isolation of infected patients, regular handwashing, monitoring of close contacts, and the application of infection control measures will all be critical to limiting and halting onward spread of the disease.
“Once the ship docks it is likely that arrangements will be made for the remaining passengers and crew to be medically assessed and then be taken into a period of quarantine and monitoring to ensure the control of any infection and provide early medical intervention where needed.”
Full story: Passengers not allowed to leave hantavirus cruise ship for three more days
18:30 , Dan HaygarthPassengers will not be allowed off the MV Hondius, location for an outbreak of hantavirus, until it reaches the Canary Islands – 900 miles northeast of its present location, Cape Verde. The voyage is expected to take three days.
Three people who were on the voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde have died and a British man is in hospital in South Africa.
The health authorities in Cape Verde have refused to allow the non-symptomatic passengers and crew to disembark.
Passengers not allowed to leave hantavirus cruise ship for three more days
Hantavirus: What are the symptoms and how does it spread amid deadly cruise ship outbreak
18:00 , Dan HaygarthHantaviruses, which have been present for centuries, have a documented history of outbreaks across Asia and Europe.
In the Eastern Hemisphere, these viruses have been associated with severe conditions such as haemorrhagic fever and kidney failure.
A distinct group of hantaviruses emerged in the early 1990s in the southwestern United States, leading to the acute respiratory disease now known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Read more:
US travel blogger posts tearful Instagram video from hantavirus-struck cruise ship
17:30 , Dan HaygarthAn 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.
“I am currently on board the MV Hondius, and what’s happening right now is very real for all of us here,” Rosmarin said in a video shared Monday on Instagram. “We’re not just a story, we’re not just headlines. We’re people. People with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.”
Read more below:
US travel blogger posts tearful Instagram video from hantavirus-struck cruise ship
Where is the ship and what is happening to passengers?
17:00 , Dan HaygarthThe ship is off the coast of Cape Verde, where it is hoped the medical evacuation of the British crew member, along with a Dutch colleague and a passenger, will take place, with Dutch authorities are leading evacuation plans.
Other passengers are confined to their cabins while “disinfection and other public health measures are carried out”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
Tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions said the operation is “complex” adding: “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.”
They are said to need “urgent medical care” after having acute respiratory symptoms.”
The WHO said its “highest priority” is to “medically evacuate these two individuals to make sure that they have the care that they receive”.
How likely are you to get ill on a cruise? The health risks amid hantavirus outbreak
16:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe hygiene of cruise lines may be under scrutiny after a suspected outbreak of hantavirus on a polar expedition vessel – but passengers should be reassured that cases are rare.
At least three people have died aboard Oceanwide Expeditions’ MV Hondius, which began a remote voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde on 1 April, carrying 147 passengers.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said a total of seven hantavirus cases – two confirmed and five suspected – had been identified on the cruise ship so far.
But how risky are cruises? You can read more below:
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How likely are you to get ill on a cruise amid hantavirus outbreak?
Watch: Everything you need to know about the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak with Simon Calder
16:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWhat we know about the cruise ship passengers affected by hantavirus
15:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe first person to die on the ship was a 70-year-old man from the Netherlands. He developed symptoms of fever, headache, and mild diarrhoea on April 6 and died on April 11 after experiencing respiratory distress. His body was removed from the vessel on the island of Saint Helena on April 24.
The second death was the 69-year-old wife of the first patient. She fell ill aboard the ship and disembarked at Saint Helena. She was flown to Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 25 where she was meant to take a connecting flight to the Netherlands, but collapsed at the airport in Johannesburg and died at a nearby hospital on April 26.
The third case was a British man who fell ill on board the ship after it left Saint Helena. He disembarked at Ascension Island where he received treatment and was medically evacuated to South Africa on April 27. He remains hospitalised and is in isolation in an intensive care unit in Johannesburg.
The fourth case was a German woman who died on the ship on May 2, after developing symptoms five days earlier.
Three more suspected cases have reported a fever and/or gastrointestinal symptoms and remain on board the ship, which is moored off the coast of Cape Verde. Medical teams in Cape Verde are evaluating the patients and collecting specimens for testing, according to the WHO.
Passengers not allowed to leave suspected hantavirus cruise ship until Canary Islands
15:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePassengers will not be allowed off the MV Hondius, location for a suspected outbreak of hantavirus, until it reaches the Canary Islands – 900 miles northeast of its present location, Cape Verde. The voyage is expected to take three days.
Three people who were on the voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde have died and a British man is in hospital in South Africa.
The health authorities in Cape Verde have refused to allow the non-symptomatic passengers and crew to disembark.
The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder reports:
Passengers not allowed to leave suspected hantavirus cruise until the Canary Islands
Expert commentary: Why is the South America travel history significant?
14:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDr Benjamin Brennan, senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, explains why the ship’s previous travel is significant:
“Cases 1 and 2 travelled in South America, including Argentina, before boarding the cruise ship,” he said.
“This is a crucial piece of epidemiological information in that it suggests the infection was acquired in a hantavirus-endemic region and brought aboard, rather than originating from shipboard conditions. Argentina is where Andes virus circulates, so identifying which virus strain is responsible is essential for assessing the ongoing risks associated with the outbreak.
“The travel histories of other passengers and crew members are still being investigated, so it remains uncertain whether additional individuals may have had exposure to hantavirus sources in endemic areas before boarding or during port stops. However, most passengers and crew will have been in close quarters throughout the virus incubation period, leading to the potential for secondary cases to occur.”
Govt 'putting plans in place' for Britons on ship, PM says
14:21 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe government is putting “plans in place” for the onward travel of Britons stuck aboard a cruise ship hit by a suspected hantavirus outbreak, the prime minister said.
In a post on X, Sir Keir Starmer said: “My thoughts are with those affected by the hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius.
“We are working closely with international partners to support British nationals on board and we’re putting plans in place for their safe onward travel.
“The risk to the wider public remains very low – protecting the British people is our number one priority.”
My thoughts are with those affected by the hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 5, 2026
We are working closely with international partners to support British nationals on board and we’re putting plans in place for their safe onward travel.
The risk to the wider public remains…
There is a 'very low risk to the general public' after suspected Hantavirus outbreak, Downing Street says
14:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
"There is a very low risk to the general public", the prime minister's official spokesperson has said following the suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship.
The spokesperson said: "We obviously know this will be a very worrying time for the friends and family of those on board the MV Hondius, and our thoughts with all those affected directly or indirectly by the Hantavirus outbreak.
"The World Health Organisation is leading the international response to this incident. It is overseeing direction of the ship itself and there are well established processes in place to prevent the disease spreading, which they're directing, working closely with relevant agencies."
They added: "Work is ongoing across government to plan for the safe onward travel of those British nationals on board for when they disembark. Speaking more broadly, people should be reassured there is a very low risk to the general public."
Downing Street confirmed that the Foreign Office is in direct contact with the ship, which is thought to have around twenty British nationals on board.
It is understood that one British national who was a passenger on the ship is now being treated in hospital in South Africa. The Foreign Office is providing consular assistance and is in touch with their family.
British crew member awaiting evacuation after suspected hantavirus outbreak
13:42 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA British crew member who became unwell after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean is to be medically evacuated, officials have said.
The crew member is being prepared for medical evacuation with a Dutch colleague, and Dutch authorities are leading evacuation plans.
They are said to need “urgent medical care” after having acute respiratory symptoms, the tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said its “highest priority” is to “medically evacuate these two individuals to make sure that they have the care that they receive”.
Meanwhile a British passenger struck down by hantavirus is “understood to be improving”.
The polar expedition ship at the centre of the Atlantic hantavirus outbreak
13:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe 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.
'Deeply worrying time' for ship passengers and their families, foreign office says
13:11 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Foreign Office has said it is a “deeply worrying time” for everyone on board the MV Hondius and their families.
In a statement, a UK Government spokesperson said: “This is a deeply worrying time for all those onboard the MV Hondius and the families of those affected by the hantavirus outbreak.
“FCDO Consular teams have been stood up across the UK, South Africa, Spain and Portugal to support British nationals and 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.”
Recap: Foreign Office in touch with cruise company on potential virus outbreak
13:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe 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."
In pictures: MV Hondius barred from docking in Cape Verde
12:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Oceanwide Expeditions issue update on 'serious medical situation'
12:21 , Alex RossIn a statement posted on Facebook just an hour ago, the cruise ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions has issued an update on the “serious medical situation” on MV Hondius.
The statement reads: “Two crew members on board continue to present acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe. Both require urgent medical care. These crew members are of British and Dutch nationality. At this time, no other persons with symptoms have been identified.
“Oceanwide Expeditions can confirm, via the WHO, that a variant of hantavirus has been identified as being present in the female Dutch national who was reported to us on 27 April 2026 as having passed away after disembarkation in Saint Helena the day prior.
“This brings the total number of confirmed hantavirus cases to two. Dutch authorities are actively preparing a medical evacuation of the two symptomatic individuals, along with the individual associated with the guest who passed away on 2 May.”
Risk to global population low, WHO says
11:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe World Health Organisation (WHO) is continuing to assess the risk of the hantavirus outbreak to the global population as low.
In a statement, officials said: “Based on the current information, including how hantavirus spreads, WHO assesses the risk to the global population from this event as low.
“We are working closely with health authorities from the countries involved and the ship's operators to ensure passengers and crew get the information and support they need.”
#Hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship travel:
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 5, 2026
Since 1 April when the boat set sail, of the 147 passengers and crew, 7 people have become ill, among whom 3 have died, 1 is critically ill and 3 are reporting mild symptoms.
Based on the current information, including how… pic.twitter.com/KDKwmrNeBt
'No rats' on board MV Hondius, reports say
11:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThere are no rats on board the MV Hondius, the World Health Organisation says it has been told.
Hantavirus typically spreads from infected rodents and only rarely passes between humans.
The agency said it is possible hantavirus may have spread between close contacts on board the ship.
Medics to board ship and evacuate two infected passengers, WHO says
10:38 , Nicole Wootton-CaneMedics will be allowed to board the MV Hondius and evacuate two infected passengers, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
In an update on Tuesday, the agency said there may be some human-to-human transmission happening between close contacts on board the cruise ship.
It added the risk to the wider public remains low.
WHO said the ship will then continue to the Canary Islands.
Family of Dutch couple pay tribute
10:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe family of a Dutch couple, both 69 years old, who were on the cruise ship MV Hondius and died last month have paid tribute to them.
The husband and wife, who have not been named, died on 11 and 26 April respectively. It is understood the husband became ill first and died on board, while his wife disembarked but later became unwell on her return journey and died. Tests confirmed she had contracted hantavirus.
In a statement obtained by Sky News, the couple’s family said they were from the village of Haulerwijk in the north of the Netherlands.
"The beautiful journey they experienced together was abruptly and permanently cut short,” they said.
"We are still unable to comprehend that we have lost them. We wish to bring them home and commemorate them in peace and privacy.”
Expert commentary: How may hantavirus have arisen on the MV Hondius?
10:04 , Nicole Wootton-CanePassengers on the MV Hondius may have picked up hantavirus after being in contact with infected rodents’ droppings in South America, an expert has said.
Dr Giulia Gallo, Postdoctoral Scientist in the Viral Glycoproteins Group, at the Pirbright Institute, said we cannot currently be sure where the contact happened.
“Ongoing investigations from the WHO and its collaborators will shed light on the events that led to the three suspected cases reported on the cruise ship,” he said.
“The most likely situation is that people travelling from South America came in contact with infected rodents’ dropping in this part of the world. At the moment, we cannot be sure where the contact happened: it might have been during touristic activities in the region, or infected rodents might have been present on the ship.
“New World hantaviruses are considered the more pathogenic to humans, as compared to Old World Hantaviruses, causing a disease called “Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome”, which is believed to be fatal in 40% of cases.
“It can take up to a few weeks for the symptoms to manifest.”
Watch: Cruise ship passenger makes emotional plea from hantavirus-struck vessel
10:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWhat are the symptoms of hantavirus?
09:35 , Nicole Wootton-CaneHantavirus are a family of viruses which can cause serious illnesses and death.
Mainly spread by rodents, the viruses can cause diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).
The main symptoms in early stages of HPS infection are:
• fatigue
• fever
• muscle aches
Four to 10 days later, late symptoms appear. These include coughing and shortness of breath.
The main symptoms in early stages of HFRS infection are:
• intense headaches
• back and abdominal pain
• fever/chills
• nausea
• blurred vision
Later symptoms can also include:
• low blood pressure
• lack of blood flow
• internal bleeding
• acute kidney failure, which can cause severe fluid overload
What to know about hantavirus as illness linked with three deaths on Atlantic cruise ship
09:20 , Rebecca WhittakerThree 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.
Read more here:
What to know about hantavirus as illness linked with three deaths on cruise ship
What’s the relevance of this being on a cruise ship?
09:01 , Rebecca WhittakerScientists do not yet know how the cruise ship passengers became infected with Hantavirus, but said outbreaks on cruise ships are not uncommon.
Experts have also reassured it is unlikely to spread to the UK.
Dr Benjamin Brennan at the University of Glasgow said: “Infectious disease outbreaks on cruise liners are not uncommon (e.g. norovirus). We don’t yet know whether it’s relevant that this current situation has happened on a cruise ship.”
Prof Jon Cohen, Emeritus Professor of Infectious Diseases, Brighton and Sussex Medical School said there is “not a particular reason for these infections to occur on cruise ships,” and added that the source of the infection is still unknown.
“It is too early to speculate on how the affected people became infected.But it is very unlikely that this outbreak would lead to an increased risk in the UK or elsewhere in Europe,” Prof Paul Hunter, Professor in Medicine, UEA, added.
Passengers face 900-mile voyage to Canary Islands before they are allowed off the ship
08:45 , Rebecca WhittakerSimon Calder the Independent’s Travel Correspondent reports:
Passengers will not be allowed off the MV Hondius, location for an outbreak of hantavirus, until she reaches the Canary Islands – 900 miles northeast of her present location, Cape Verde.
The voyage is expected to take three days.Three people who were on the voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde have died and a British man is in hospital in South Africa.
The health authorities in Cape Verde have refused to allow the non-symptomatic passengers and crew to disembark.
Dr Maria van Kerkhove, director for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention at the World Health Organisation (WHO), has been explaining the latest thinking on BBC Breakfast about the outbreak of hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius.
“Our working hypothesis is that there's probably a couple of different types of transmission that might be happening: maybe some infection – exposure to rodents or their faeces or their saliva before passengers embarked – and potentially some limited human to human transmission among the contacts.
"We're working with the ship's operators, we're working with the nations from where they are from, to make sure that we have a plan for where the boat goes next, which will be the Canary Islands, and to make sure that there's a proper assessment that is done, that information is shared with them, that they receive food, they receive water, and of course that they're medically evaluated over the course of several weeks.
“We want to ensure that they are safe, we want to ensure that even if they are infected – and like we said, we have no other symptomatic people on board – to make sure that they will receive medical care.
“We do know that one of the viruses can transmit between people, but in previous outbreaks it's been quite limited – and when I say limited, I mean among close contacts or with prolonged contact.
“We have a working hypothesis that there's probably a mixture of different types of transmission.
“This is also a boat that went to many different islands. They were looking at wildlife, they were looking at birds, and on some of these islands there's rodents as well.
“So there could be a mixture of exposure to rodents in different places, but because some of the cases are close contacts, sharing cabins together, our assumption is that there's a bit of a mix.”
Hantavirus has an incubation period of up to eight weeks. Dr van Kerkhove said: “We're working with Spanish officials to actually develop that plan to make sure that there is a plan in place for an assessment on board once the ship docks in the Canary Islands to do a proper risk assessment.”
“It's not about docking and letting everybody go without any follow-up or any support.”
US travel blogger one of 17 Americans onboard
08:39 , Rebecca WhittakerAmerican travel blogger Jake Rosmarin, who has over 44,000 followers on Instagram, was aboard the ship when the suspected outbreak.
While onboard the ship, along with 149 passengers including 17 Americans, he shared a teary social media update.
“I am currently on board the MV Hondius, and what’s happening right now is very real for all of us here,” Rosmarin said in a video shared Monday on Instagram.
“We’re not just a story, we’re not just headlines. We’re people. People with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.”
“There’s a lot of uncertainty, and that’s the hardest part,” Rosmarin added.
“All we want right now is to feel safe. To have clarity, and to get home,” the blogger continued.
“If you’re seeing coverage of this, just remember that there are real people behind it and that this isn’t something happening somewhere far away…It’s happening to us right now,” he concluded the video.
South African officials start contact tracing
08:30 , Shweta SharmaSouth Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases was conducting contact tracing to identify whether people were exposed to infected cruise ship passengers.
The 69-year-old Dutch woman who died was trying to catch a flight home to the Netherlands at Johannesburg’s main international airport, one of Africa's busiest, when she collapsed.
Her blood later tested positive for the virus, making two confirmed cases, South Africa's health minister said.
But the health department urged people not to panic, saying WHO was “coordinating a multi-country response with all affected islands and countries to contain further spread of the disease".
There was no information yet from authorities on a possible source of the suspected outbreak.
Watch: British crew member needs urgent care as suspected hantavirus outbreak hits Atlantic cruise
08:15 , Rebecca WhittakerWhat are the symptoms of hantavirus?
08:00 , Graig GraziosiThe symptoms of hantavirus can vary depending on its cause, but can be severe in all cases.
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. The symptoms can progress quickly and cause breathing problems as the lungs fill with fluid.
HFRS, which affects the kidneys, typically develops within one to two weeks of exposure, though in some rare cases it can take up to eight weeks. Early symptoms set in suddenly and can 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."
WHO says there is 'no need for panic' as risk to public remains low
07:45 , Rebecca WhittakerThree people have died and two cases of Hanravirus have been confirmed.
The virus is usually spread by infected rodents’ urine or faeces, but can spread between people and can lead to severe respiratory illness which can sometimes be fatal.
However, the World Health Organization has said the risk to the wider public remains low.
Hans Henri P Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe said there is “no need for panic or travel restrictions”.
There is no specific treatment or cure, but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive medical attention early.
“Strict precautionary measures” are in place on board, including isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring.
Passengers on the ship instructed to remain inside their cabins
07:30 , Shweta SharmaPassengers aboard the Dutch-flagged expedition vessel MV Hondius have been instructed to remain inside their cabins, as operators race to contain a suspected hantavirus outbreak.
A spokesperson for Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions said the precautionary confinement was aimed at limiting any potential spread of the virus.
While human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is considered rare, concerns persist due to its long incubation period – which can stretch over several weeks, allowing infections to go undetected in the early stages.
Oceanwide Expeditions 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.
The company said it was looking into whether passengers could be screened and disembarked on the islands of Las Palmas and Tenerife.
Spanish authorities said they had not yet received a request for the ship to dock and disembark passengers there.
The Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry, which Oceanwide Expeditions said would be the one making the request, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cape Verde officials have sent medical teams to MV Hondius
07:00 , Graig GraziosiOfficials in Cape Verde have sent a medical team consisting of two doctors, a nurse and a laboratory specialist to the MV Hondius over three trips to help treat individuals with respiratory symptoms after a suspected hantavirus outbreak occurred on the ship, according to Dr. Ann Lindstrand of the World Health Organization.
She told the Associated Press that another individual on the ship was showing mild fever symptoms, but did not offer further details on their condition as of Monday evening.
The medical workers were also assisting two crew members who Oceanwide Expeditions, the owner of the ship, said required urgent medical care.
"Local health authorities have visited the vessel to assess the condition of the two symptomatic individuals," the company told the Associated Press. "They are yet to make a decision regarding the transfer of these individuals into medical care in Cape Verde."
Suspected hantavirus outbreak: case-by-case timeline
06:58 , Shweta SharmaWHO has outlined the progression of cases linked to the suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, tracing how the illness unfolded among passengers:
Case 1An adult male developed fever, headache and mild diarrhoea on 6 April while on board. His condition worsened, and by 11 April he developed respiratory distress and died the same day. No microbiological tests were carried out. His body was later removed from the vessel to Saint Helena on 24 April.
Case 2An adult female, a close contact of Case 1, went ashore in Saint Helena on 24 April with gastrointestinal symptoms. Her condition deteriorated during a flight to Johannesburg on 25 April, and she died on arrival at the emergency department on 26 April. On 4 May, PCR testing confirmed hantavirus infection. Contact tracing for passengers on the flight is under way.
Both Case 1 and Case 2 had travelled in South America, including Argentina, before boarding the ship on 1 April.
Case 3An adult male presented to the ship’s doctor on 24 April with fever, shortness of breath and signs of pneumonia. His condition worsened on 26 April, and he was medically evacuated from Ascension to South Africa on 27 April, where he remains in intensive care. Initial respiratory pathogen tests were negative, but PCR testing confirmed hantavirus infection on 2 May. Further analysis, including sequencing, is ongoing.
Case 4An adult female developed symptoms on 28 April, including fever and general malaise, consistent with pneumonia. She died on 2 May.
Other suspected casesThree additional suspected cases have reported high fever and/or gastrointestinal symptoms and remain on board. Medical teams in Cabo Verde are assessing these patients and collecting further samples for testing.
Map shows journey of the MV Hondius
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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
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