Three dead after deadly virus outbreak in the Atlantic

Written by ruth901

WHO warns of further dangerThree dead after virus outbreak on cruise ship

This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 3, 2026. An outbreak of "severe acute respiratory illness" on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic has left two people dead and a third in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa's health ministry told AFP on May 3, 2026. The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, traveling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde. The patient being treated in Johannesburg tested positive for a hantavirus, a family of viruses that can cause hemorrhagic fever, South African spokesman Foster Mohale said. (Photo by AFP) — The “MV Hondius” is currently in front of the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde.

AFP / –

May 4, 2026 around 07:21 Clock

A man suddenly dies on a cruise ship in the Atlantic. Shortly afterwards, his wife was taken to a hospital – and also died. The WHO now counts a total of three deaths after an outbreak of acute respiratory diseases on board. Another patient is in the intensive care unit.

A fatal outbreak of acute respiratory illness has occurred on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least three people have died and another is in the intensive care unit of a hospital in South Africa. According to current knowledge, a total of six people are ill. According to the WHO, one of the three people who died tested positive for the hantavirus, while five others were suspected cases.

The outbreak occurred on board the MV Hondius, which was traveling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde. As a spokesman for the South African Ministry of Health announced, a 70-year-old passenger initially showed symptoms and died on board. His body is currently on the British island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic. His 69-year-old wife also fell ill, was evacuated to South Africa and died in a hospital in Johannesburg.

The South African authorities had also reported a third patient: a 69-year-old Brit who was flown to Johannesburg and tested positive for hantavirus. The man was initially being treated in the intensive care unit.

A little later, the WHO spoke of three deaths and one patient in the intensive care unit. An investigation and a coordinated international response to the “cases of severe acute respiratory illness on a cruise ship in the Atlantic” were ongoing, the UN organization said.

The “MV Hondius” is operated by the Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions. The ship can accommodate around 170 passengers and has around 70 crew members. According to several tracking portals, it was in front of the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on Sunday.

According to the US health authority CDC, hantaviruses are primarily transmitted through contact with the urine, feces or saliva of infected rodents and can lead to serious illnesses. Person-to-person transmission is extremely rare.

Sources used: uzh/AFP