Oceanwide Expeditions has confirmed that three passengers have died aboard the expedition vessel m/v Hondius during a voyage off the coast of Cape Verde.
In an operational update published on 3 May, the company said one passenger is currently receiving intensive care treatment in Johannesburg, while two crew members on board also require urgent medical attention.
According to Oceanwide Expeditions, Cape Verdean authorities had not yet authorised the disembarkation of passengers needing medical care as of 23:00 CET on 3 May. Local health officials visited the vessel to assess two symptomatic individuals but had not yet decided whether they would be transferred for treatment in Cape Verde.
The company stated that its immediate priority is ensuring that the affected individuals receive “adequate and expedited medical care”.
Dutch authorities have agreed to coordinate a joint repatriation effort to transfer the two symptomatic individuals from Cape Verde to the Netherlands. The repatriation plans also include the body of one deceased passenger and a non-symptomatic guest closely associated with the deceased.
Oceanwide Expeditions said the operation depends on approval and support from local Cape Verdean health authorities.
The company added that it is working closely with international and local authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), embassies and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Oceanwide Expeditions said it remains in contact with affected passengers and their families and is continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
The company has not yet released further details about the cause of the medical situation on board.
What is Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses can infect and cause serious disease in people worldwide. People get hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva. It can also spread through a bite or scratch by a rodent, but this is rare.
Hantaviruses cause two syndromes. Hantaviruses found in the Western Hemisphere, including in the U.S., can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The most common hantavirus that causes HPS in the U.S. is spread by the deer mouse.
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a group of clinically similar illnesses caused by hantaviruses found mostly in Europe and Asia. However, Seoul virus, a type of hantavirus that causes HFRS, is found worldwide, including in the United States.
- Hantaviruses are a family of viruses which can cause serious illnesses and death.
- These viruses cause diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).
- They are spread mainly by rodents and are not spread from person-to-person.
Diagnosing hantavirus in a person who has been infected less than 72 hours is difficult. If the initial test is done before the virus can be found, repeat testing is often done 72 hours after symptom start. Early symptoms such as fever, headache muscle aches, nausea, and fatigue are easily confused with influenza.
If you suspect hantavirus disease, see a physician immediately and mention a potential rodent exposure.
04.05.2026.
