World2 min(s) read
Published 16:30 06 May 2026 GMT
Passengers aboard a cruise ship struck by a suspected hantavirus outbreak have been largely confined to their cabins after three people died, with new footage revealing the tense conditions on board.
The vessel, the MV Hondius, had been on a polar expedition from Argentina to Antarctica and the South Atlantic when the situation unfolded.
It is currently waiting off the coast of Cape Verde, where authorities have refused to let anyone disembark due to serious public health concerns.
Instead, the ship is now expected to travel more than 1,000 miles to the Canary Islands, after three individuals were medically evacuated.
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Video taken on board shows eerily quiet scenes, with empty decks and communal areas, and only a handful of passengers visible, some wearing face masks.
Others remain isolated in their cabins, following strict health measures. At one point, several individuals in full protective gear, including white suits, boots, and masks, could be seen transferring between vessels.
Officials in Cape Verde have tightened safety measures, particularly around the port of Praia, as a precaution against the virus, which is typically spread by rodents and only rarely passed between humans.
The World Health Organization confirmed that passengers had been told to stay inside to “limit their risk while disinfection and other measures are being taken.”
Speaking in Geneva, WHO official Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove said the current plan is for the ship “to continue on to the Canary Islands,” adding: “We’re working with Spanish authorities, who will welcome the ship.”
She also noted that there are no additional symptomatic cases and that “once the two sick individuals on board are medically evacuated, then the ship can move.”
Spanish authorities say they are closely monitoring the situation, explaining they are “conducting close monitoring, together with the World Health Organization and other involved countries.” A final decision on where the ship will dock has yet to be made.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, the cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said the mood on board “remains calm, with passengers generally composed,” adding that the highest level response plan is in place, including isolation protocols and medical monitoring.
The ship originally departed from Ushuaia in southern Argentina on April 1. While no passengers showed symptoms at the time, experts note the virus can take weeks to develop.
Authorities in Cape Verde say their priority remains ensuring “the maximum level of safety” for the local population as the situation continues to unfold.
