Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: Two Indian Crew Members Aboard Stricken Cruise Ship

Two Indian nationals are among the crew of the Dutch-flagged expedition vessel MV Hondius, which is at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak in the Atlantic Ocean that has claimed three lives and triggered international health alerts.

The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, remains off Cape Verde with around 149 people still on board as it heads toward Spain’s Canary Islands, expected to arrive around May 10. Authorities plan extensive testing and monitoring upon arrival.

Confirmed Cases and Fatalities

Health officials have confirmed five cases of hantavirus infection so far, with three deaths reported. The victims include a Dutch couple and a German passenger. The first fatality was a 70-year-old Dutch man who died aboard the ship on April 11. His wife later succumbed in a South African hospital, while the third victim, a woman, died on May 2.

The outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, primarily associated with rodents in South America. This variant is notable because it can, in rare instances, spread from person to person, unlike most other hantaviruses.

Doctor Explains Transmission Dynamics

Dr. Karin Ellen Veldkamp, treating a patient at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, emphasised that the virus does not transmit as easily as Covid-19. “Hantavirus does not spread easily from person to person. Its transmission is much more difficult compared to corona,” she told AFP. Patients are isolated with strict protocols, and isolation continues until symptoms resolve and tests turn negative.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the situation as serious but assessed the risk to the general public as low for now. However, it has issued alerts to multiple countries due to passengers who disembarked earlier, particularly at Saint Helena on April 24.

Ship’s Itinerary and Possible Origin

The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on March 20 (or around April 1 according to some timelines), carrying roughly 170 passengers and 71 crew from over 20 nationalities for an Antarctic and South Atlantic expedition. It visited areas around the South Pole before crossing the Atlantic toward Europe.

Initial investigations point to possible exposure during a bird-watching trip by the first victims in parts of Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, where specific rodents carrying the virus are found. Argentine authorities are tracing the couple’s movements. Symptoms in the index case appeared around April 6.

Indians on Board

The two Indian crew members form part of a diverse team that includes many from the Philippines and other countries. Their current health status has not been publicly disclosed, and Indian diplomatic missions are understood to be in touch with authorities for updates. The ship also has a doctor on board.

Nationalities on board have included significant numbers from the UK, US, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Canada, among others. Dozens who left at Saint Helena have returned home, prompting contact tracing in countries including Britain, the United States, Canada, Germany, and Singapore.

Containment Measures and Outlook

Passengers and crew showing symptoms are under isolation. Some patients have been evacuated for treatment in South Africa and the Netherlands. The incubation period can extend up to six weeks, raising the possibility of additional cases emerging even after disembarkation.

Local authorities in Cape Verde and Spanish officials are preparing for the ship’s arrival. Strict disease control protocols are in place, with passengers expected to undergo thorough medical screening.

WHO officials have stressed that this is not the start of a wider pandemic, differentiating it clearly from respiratory viruses like Covid-19 due to its limited transmissibility. Still, the incident has highlighted vulnerabilities in long-duration expedition cruises through remote regions.

As the MV Hondius continues its cautious journey, families of those on board and international health agencies remain on high alert. Further updates on the two Indian crew members and overall testing results are anticipated once the vessel reaches the Canary Islands.