Cruise Ship ‘Hondius’ Faces Medical Emergency Amid Hantavirus Outbreak
The Dutch cruise ship ‘Hondius’ remains anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, grappling with a medical crisis that has resulted in multiple fatalities. The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, has been unable to dock in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, as local health authorities have not granted permission for disembarkation. This situation escalated on May 3, when it was announced that two crew members—a Briton and a Dutchman—required urgent medical attention due to respiratory issues. While one crew member shows severe symptoms, the other is experiencing milder ones. The source of their illnesses remains unclear, and it has not yet been confirmed whether Hantavirus is involved.
Medical personnel boarded the ‘Hondius’ to assess the crew members’ conditions and planned their evacuation on May 4. However, the success of this operation depends on the cooperation of Cape Verdean health authorities. In addition to the crew members, plans are underway to repatriate the body of a deceased passenger back to the Netherlands, alongside a close relative who is symptom-free. Oceanwide Expeditions is maintaining close contact with affected families and is working with health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to manage the crisis. The Ministry confirmed that a Dutch national died during the voyage from Ushuaia to Cape Verde, and another Dutch passenger succumbed to illness in South Africa.
