WHO insist hantavirus outbreak will not become pandemic but infection fears grow as hunt is on for passengers who left cruise

SAINT HELENA ISLAND - APRIL 24: A view of the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius is seen navigating the Atlantic Ocean near Saint Helena Island on April 24, 2026. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that seven cases of hantavirus, three of which were fatal, were detected on the MV Hondius, which was traveling from Argentina in the South Atlantic to Cabo Verde off the west coast of Africa. (Photo by Emin Yogurtcuoglu/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Here is what we know so far about the situation on the Hondius, which has sparked international alarm since news of the outbreak emerged last weekend.

There are 149 people from 23 different nationalities on the MV Hondius, the ship’s Dutch operator Oceanwide Expeditions told AFP on Thursday.

There are more than 80 passengers, with the largest groups from Britain, the United States and Spain. Most of the crew are from the Philippines.

Following Wednesday’s evacuation of three suspected cases, the ship operator said Thursday “no symptomatic individuals are present on board”.

A Dutch couple who had travelled around South America before boarding the ship in Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1 were the first fatalities.

The husband, 70, showed symptoms on April 6 and died on April 11. His body was taken off the ship during its April 22-24 call at Saint Helena, an island in the south Atlantic.

His 69-year-old wife, who was feeling unwell, also left the ship at Saint Helena. Her health deteriorated during an April 25 flight to Johannesburg and she died in hospital a day later, with hantavirus confirmed on May 4.

A German passenger who developed a fever on April 28, which became pneumonia, died on May 2. Her body remains on the ship.

The rare disease is usually spread from infected rodents, typically through urine, droppings and saliva.

Laboratory testing in South Africa and Switzerland confirmed the two patients being treated in those countries had the Andes strain of hantavirus – the only one known to pass between humans.

There are no vaccines or specific treatments for hantavirus.

The cruise began on April 1, with 114 guests boarding at Ushuaia, Oceanwide Expeditions said.

After South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha and other Atlantic islands, the vessel called at Saint Helena, where 30 guests disembarked on April 24.

The Hondius then stopped at Ascension Island on April 27, before anchoring off Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, from Sunday until it set sail for the Canaries late Wednesday.

Spain’s health ministry has said the ship is expected in Tenerife on Sunday, with evacuation of passengers set to start on May 11.