The World Health Organization has confirmed that the hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius has affected nationals from six countries, with eight confirmed infections and two probable cases reported so far.
Three deaths have been linked to the outbreak, including two laboratory-confirmed hantavirus fatalities and one probable case. Health authorities are also tracing additional suspected infections and close contacts connected to the voyage.
Netherlands
The Netherlands recorded the highest number of cases linked to the outbreak. Two Dutch passengers died after falling ill during the voyage. A 70-year-old man developed symptoms on April 6 and died five days later while still aboard the ship. Although he was not tested, the WHO classified him as a probable hantavirus case.
His 69-year-old wife later became seriously ill after leaving the ship at Saint Helena and died in a Johannesburg hospital on April 26. Tests later confirmed hantavirus infection.
The ship’s doctor also tested positive for the Andes strain after developing symptoms on April 30. He was later evacuated to the Netherlands for isolation treatment.
United Kingdom
Three British nationals were linked to the outbreak, including two confirmed infections and one probable case.
One British passenger became critically ill with fever and pneumonia before being evacuated from Ascension Island to South Africa, where tests confirmed the Andes strain.
Another British crew member working as a guide aboard the ship later tested positive and was transferred to the Netherlands for treatment.
A third British passenger who had earlier left the vessel for Tristan da Cunha developed symptoms afterward and remains classified as a probable case pending final laboratory confirmation.
Germany
A German woman who became ill with fever and pneumonia died aboard the ship on May 2. Post-mortem testing later confirmed infection with the Andes strain of hantavirus.
Switzerland
A Swiss passenger who disembarked in Saint Helena later travelled home through South Africa and Qatar before developing symptoms in Switzerland. He subsequently tested positive for the virus and received treatment in isolation.
France
French authorities confirmed that a woman repatriated from the Hondius tested positive for hantavirus shortly after returning to France, according to Health Minister Stéphanie Rist.
United States
US health officials said one American passenger tested mildly positive for the virus, while another showed mild symptoms after being repatriated from the ship.
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