Two Irish passengers confirmed to be onboard the MV HondiusA 69-year-old British man is believed to have been evacuated from the ship to a hospital in Johannesburg for treatment
The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius is carrying 147 passengers and crew from 23 countries.
Of the seven cases identified, one British passenger is in intensive care in Johannesburg and was later confirmed to have hantavirus.
A Dutch passenger who died after disembarking in the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena also tested positive. She had left the ship with the remains of her husband, who died on board in April.
The MV Hondius cruise ship is anchored at a port in Praia, Cape Verde Photo: AP Photo/Arilson Almeida
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – May 5th
Three additional suspected cases with mild symptoms remain on board, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. The cause of death of a German passenger who died on May 2 hasn’t been established.
Hantavirus is a rare infection typically spread through exposure to infected urine, saliva and droppings from rodents. In severe cases it can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which can progress rapidly to respiratory failure and shock.
The WHO said on Monday: “As of 4 May 2026, seven cases (two laboratory confirmed cases of hantavirus and five suspected cases) have been identified, including three deaths, one critically ill patient and three individuals reporting mild symptoms,” WHO said.
Meanwhile, an Irish woman onboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, has told of the “shock” at the deaths of three passengers.
Two Irish passengers are onboard the ship which is docked off the coast of Cape Verde.
Ann Lane, who is originally from Cork but lives in Donnybrook, south Dublin, said: “The real shock was when the first people died because we just didn’t know what this was.”
The three deceased are a 70-year-old man from the Netherlands and his 69-year-old wife.
A third Dutch person’s remains were still onboard on Monday.
A British passenger, who is in a critical condition, is currently being treated in intensive care in Johannesburg.
Cape Verde health authorities said they have decided not to authorise the cruise ship to dock at the port of Praia, as a precautionary measure.
The MV Hondius had been travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde, its final destination, when some passengers became ill.
Ms Lane, a former personal assistant to former president Mary Robinson and Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik, told how the first man’s body had been on the ship for several days before being removed.
This deceased man’s 69-year-old wife, left the ship at St Helena but later died.
Ms Lane told the Irish Times: “We heard she had been taken on to the flight to Johannesburg in a wheelchair, though of course there’s an awful lot of rumours.
“She seemed to be okay while she was on the ship before she got off at St Helena. So that was an awful shock, to hear both of them had died.
“Then another person died, a woman and her body is still on the ship. It’s terribly sad, really awfully sad. But we have confidence in Oceanwide, everyone on the ship, their performance has been impeccable.”
She also told how the ship’s doctor and a member of the expedition staff had now become unwell.
MV HONDIUS
The doctor had been treating passengers 24-7. “He’s a younger man, British. He has been sick quite a few days, maybe since last Thursday,” she said.
Though in good health, Ms Lane described how it was a case of having to “hang in there” and wait for the green light for people to disembark.
The Atlantic Ocean archipelago nation’s National Directorate of Health said in a statement that all necessary safeguards were being put in place, including preparations for a possible medical evacuation by air ambulance for patients under observation.
It added that the situation was under control and there was currently no risk to the population on land.
On Monday afternoon the HSE’s National Health Protection Office (NHPO) confirmed it is “aware of reports of six cases of illness, including three deaths, among passengers and crew on board the cruise vessel MV Hondius. One case of hantavirus infection has been confirmed.”
A HSE spokesperson added: “At this time, there is no information to indicate that any Irish citizens have been affected. We understand that the remaining passengers and crew are continuing to follow appropriate public health measures on board the vessel.
“The situation is being managed through international coordination involving authorities in Cape Verde, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and South Africa, with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) under the International Health Regulations.
“The risk to Ireland is considered very low. The HSE is maintaining close contact with government departments and international partners and will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it would not comment on consular cases but added: “We are aware of reports and stand ready to provide consular assistance”.
The vessel’s operator confirmed local health authorities have visited the ship to assess the conditions of two individuals who have symptoms.
“We are in close contact with those directly affected and their families and are providing support where possible,” they said in a statement on Sunday night.
“Disembarkation and medical screening of all guests require coordination with local health authorities, and we are in close consultation with them.
“We are currently establishing the full facts and working on appropriate medical care, screening, and next steps.”
The MV Hondius anchored off Praia, Cape Verde (Arilson Almeida/AP)
Ms Lane said medical people from Cape Verde came in on Sunday and took samples to determine what strain of the illness it is.
She added that one more was known about the strain, it was hoped the doctor and staff member who are ill would be taken off the ship, along with another passenger.
“Our trip was supposed to end today,” she added.
“We were due to get a flight back from Cape Verde to Lisbon this evening and then Lisbon-Dublin Tuesday morning. But they are not allowing us in (to Cape Verde). We’re out beyond the dock.”
Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions said in a news release it was “managing a serious medical situation” on the polar expedition ship.
The cruise departed Ushuaia, Southern Argentina, for Canary Islands about three weeks ago with 149 passengers and stopped in the Antarctic and other locations on its way to Cape Verde, according to media reports.
The World Health Organisation said in an X post that one of the sick passengers was in intensive care in South Africa. Sky News reported the passenger is British, citing South Africa’s Department of Health.
Oceanwide Expeditions said Cape Verde authorities had not given permission for passengers requiring medical care to disembark, and Dutch authorities were seeking to organise repatriation of two symptomatic passengers along with the body of a deceased passenger.
Hantavirus can be spread when droppings and urine of rodents become airborne, such as when people sweep out sheds where mice have been living.
WHO said the virus can be spread between people in rare cases.
The illness begins with flu-like symptoms and can lead to heart and lung failure, with around 40pc of cases resulting in death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.
There are no specific drugs to treat hantavirus, so treatment focuses on supportive care, including putting patients on ventilators in severe cases.
“WHO is facilitating coordination between member states and the ship’s operators for medical evacuation of two symptomatic passengers, as well as full public health risk assessment and support to the remaining passengers on board,” the WHO said.
The British Foreign Office and South Africa’s Department of Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“The risk to the wider public remains low. There is no need for panic or travel restrictions,” said WHO regional director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, in a statement.
With additional reporting from Bloomberg