Two Irish passengers aboard cruise ship hit by hantavirus outbreak

LAST UPDATE | 11 hrs ago

TWO IRISH PASSENGERS are among the 149 people on a cruise ship where a case of hantavirus has been confirmed.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has told The Journal that it is providing consular services to the two Irish citizens on board the ship. 

Three people connected to the voyage have died, with one case of hantavirus infection confirmed so far by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, a polar cruise vessel operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, which has been travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina towards Cape Verde.

According to the WHO, additional cases are suspected, with one patient currently in intensive care in South Africa.

In an update, Oceanwide Expeditions said it is continuing to deal with a “serious medical situation” on board the vessel, which remains off the coast of Cape Verde.

The operator outlined a timeline of events, noting that a passenger died on board on 11 April, with the cause of death undetermined at the time.

The passenger, a Dutch national, was later disembarked on Saint Helena, accompanied by his wife, who subsequently became ill and died during her return journey.

Oceanwide said it has not been confirmed whether those two deaths are linked to the current situation on board.

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On 27 April, another passenger, a British national, became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa, where they remain in intensive care in Johannesburg. A variant of hantavirus has been identified in this patient.

A further passenger, a German national, died on board on 2 May, though the cause of death has not yet been established.

The company said there are currently two crew members on board with acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe, both requiring urgent medical care.

“At this time, no other persons with symptoms have been identified,” the statement said, adding that hantavirus has not been confirmed in those still on board requiring treatment, and that any link between the virus and the deaths remains under investigation.

Oceanwide confirmed that there are 149 people on board, representing 23 nationalities, including 47 EU nationals, among them two Irish passengers, as well as 23 British passengers and crew and 17 US nationals.

The WHO said hantaviruses are primarily carried by rodents and can cause severe respiratory or kidney disease in humans.

Infection typically occurs through inhalation of airborne particles from contaminated droppings, urine or saliva.

“While rare, hantavirus may spread between people, and can lead to severe respiratory illness,” the WHO said.

Oceanwide said strict precautionary measures are in place on board, including isolation protocols, hygiene measures and ongoing medical monitoring, while authorities coordinate potential evacuations and disembarkation.

The company added it is working with international partners including the WHO and relevant national authorities as efforts continue to manage the situation.

Additional reporting from AFP

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