Three dead, five French on board, disembarkation prohibited in Cape Verde… What we know about the possible hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert regarding the deaths of three people traveling on a cruise ship from Ushuaia to Cape Verde, and three others who have been affected. A case of hantavirus infection has been confirmed, with five others being suspected cases.

The incident took place on the MV Hondius cruise ship, operated by the Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions. The ship was traveling from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde. The ship requested to dock in the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on Monday morning, but the request was denied in order to “protect the population of Cape Verde.”

The WHO reported that three deaths had occurred on the cruise ship transporting 149 passengers of 23 different nationalities, including five French citizens. Of the six affected individuals, three have died, and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa.

Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that two crew members onboard the ship are exhibiting symptoms and require urgent medical attention. Efforts are being made to repatriate them to the Netherlands, although as of Sunday night, no authorization had been granted by Cape Verdean authorities for the passengers requiring medical care to disembark.

The passengers remain stuck onboard the ship, with authorities in Cape Verde refusing their entry in order to protect the local population. Investigations are ongoing to understand the circumstances surrounding the respiratory illness cases, and the virus sequencing is also in progress.

The WHO has stated that the risk of transmission is low, and there is no need for travel restrictions. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for hantaviruses, and the focus is on providing supportive care to alleviate symptoms.

As efforts continue to manage the situation onboard the MV Hondius, passengers and crew will undergo medical screenings and coordination with local health authorities to ensure safety.