Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: Three Dead, Ship Docks in Tenerife Amid Regional Opposition
Where things stand
Updated May 6, 11:22 AMThree people have died aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, currently anchored off Cape Verde, with five additional suspected hantavirus cases identified on board. The ship is preparing for a three-day voyage to the Canary Islands, but the regional government there strongly opposes its docking, citing a lack of technical criteria and sufficient public safety information. Passengers are confined to their cabins as disinfection and other health measures are carried out. Among the cases are two British nationals: one is under intensive care in South Africa, and a crew member, believed to be the ship’s doctor, has been airlifted to the Netherlands for treatment.
Open questions
- What caused the third death aboard the MV Hondius?Open since May 2, 2026
- Will the Canary Islands government ultimately permit the ship to dock, and under what conditions?
- How many total hantavirus cases have been linked to the outbreak, including those evacuated and subsequent contacts?
- What quarantine and screening procedures will be implemented upon the ship’s arrival?
- Are there any secondary cases among individuals who came into contact with the infected, such as flight passengers?
- What is the origin of the Andes strain on the ship?
Key actors
What's corroborated
The ship will leave for a three-day trip to the Canary Islands.
3 sourcesFive other suspected cases of hantavirus have been identified on the ship.
3 sourcesThree people have died aboard the Dutch ship MV Hondius, which is anchored off the coast of Cape Verde.
3 sourcesPassengers are currently confined to their cabins while disinfection and other public health measures are carried out.
2 sourcesA Dutch passenger died on board on April 11, and their wife died on April 27; both deaths are confirmed to be connected to hantavirus.
2 sources
Timeline5
WHO tracing 82 flight contacts of deceased Dutch passenger; outbreak total stands at 3 dead, 7 confirmed/suspected cases.
Passengers confined to cabins, reading and watching movies, as suspected hantavirus infections rise.
Three dead, five suspected hantavirus cases on MV Hondius; Andes strain confirmed. Ship anchored off Cape Verde.
Three people, including a British crew member, evacuated from MV Hondius off Cape Verde; ship stranded.