Story perspectives

Cape Verde Evacuates Hantavirus-Stricken MV Hondius After Three Deaths

5/4/2026

Summary

Cape Verde Evacuates

Cape Verde is handling MV Hondius after a hantavirus outbreak killed three passengers.
WHO confirmed one hantavirus case in a 69-year-old British passenger in Johannesburg.
Deaths include a 70-year-old Dutch man on April 11, his 69-year-old wife in South Africa, and a passenger on May 2.
Two crew members—a British and a Dutch—remain aboard with respiratory symptoms while Cape Verde plans evacuation to Spain’s Canary Islands with UK and African authorities.

Summary

WHO Alerts

The expedition left Ushuaia on 20 March 2026 and will end in Cape Verde on 4 May 2026.
Dutch authorities organized repatriation for two symptomatic passengers, a deceased guest, and an associate.
WHO alerted focal points under International Health Regulations and will publish a Disease Outbreak News report.
Investigations include genomic sequencing of the hantavirus strain, CDC noting a 38 % fatality rate for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and 1-15 % for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

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Cape Verde Evacuates

Cape Verde is handling MV Hondius after a hantavirus outbreak killed three passengers.
WHO confirmed one hantavirus case in a 69-year-old British passenger in Johannesburg.
Deaths include a 70-year-old Dutch man on April 11, his 69-year-old wife in South Africa, and a passenger on May 2.
Two crew members—a British and a Dutch—remain aboard with respiratory symptoms while Cape Verde plans evacuation to Spain’s Canary Islands with UK and African authorities.

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