Concern is spreading across social media following an announcement from the World Health Organization about a cruise ship incident in which three passengers reportedly died and at least three others became seriously ill amid a suspected hantavirus outbreak.
The MV Hondius—a Dutch expedition vessel traveling from Argentina to Antarctica and remote South Atlantic islands—reportedly requested medical assistance after arriving near Cape Verde. However, according to Netherlands-based operator Oceanwide Expeditions, passengers and crew have not been permitted to disembark.
Cape Verde’s Health Ministry announced on May 4 that the ship would not be allowed to dock due to public health concerns and would instead remain offshore in nearby waters.
Hantavirus is a rare rodent-borne disease typically spread through contact with infected rodents or their saliva, urine, and droppings. While human-to-human transmission is uncommon, the World Health Organization says it may be possible in rare cases.
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Health officials are still investigating how the outbreak began aboard the MV Hondius. A British passenger evacuated to South Africa reportedly tested positive and remains in critical condition, while two previously reported deaths have also been linked to the virus. One passenger’s body reportedly remains onboard as authorities continue monitoring the ship’s remaining passengers and crew.
Meanwhile, social media has been flooded with unverified rumors claiming some passengers from the affected ship may have already disembarked and boarded commercial flights, fueling fears about potential exposure to the virus.
“Infected people already got on flights. One of the victims literally died in the airport,” one tweet stated.
National Institute for Communicable Diseases officials in South Africa are now conducting contact tracing to determine whether others may have been exposed to infected cruise passengers. Authorities said the 69-year-old woman linked to the outbreak collapsed while attempting to board a flight home to the Netherlands at Johannesburg’s busy international airport.
Despite growing concern online, health officials are urging the public not to panic, noting that the World Health Organization is coordinating an international response aimed at preventing further spread of the disease.
There is currently no specific cure or treatment for hantavirus, though early medical care can improve survival rates. Still, health officials stress that the virus does not spread easily between people.
“While severe in some cases, it is not easily transmitted between people,” said Hans Henri P. Kluge of the World Health Organization. He added that the overall risk to the public remains low and that there is no need for panic or travel restrictions.
