Video obtained by The Associated Press shows largely empty decks and common areas aboard a cruise ship at the center of a rare virus outbreak, with medical staff in full protective gear moving about as the vessel, carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew, remained stationary off the West African coast.
Three passengers have died and at least four others have fallen ill in what health officials say is a hantavirus outbreak, typically spread through inhalation of particles from infected rodent droppings. According to the World Health Organization, passengers are currently isolating in their cabins.
The ship’s operator said the vessel — anchored in the Atlantic near Cape Verde — plans to head to Spain’s Canary Islands after three individuals are medically evacuated and flown to the Netherlands on specialized aircraft. Spanish authorities earlier said they were monitoring the situation but had not yet made a decision.
The MV Hondius, which had been on a multi-week polar expedition, departed Argentina on April 1, traveling toward Antarctica and remote South Atlantic islands.
Passenger Qasem Elhato, who shared the footage, said life onboard has remained relatively calm despite the uncertainty. People are passing time by reading, watching films, and socializing in limited ways. Another passenger described the shared experience as surreal, noting that no one anticipates such tragedy on a leisure trip.
Authorities in Cape Verde dispatched medical teams — including doctors, nurses, and lab specialists — to the ship, seen in the footage wearing full protective suits as they transferred to smaller boats. Local officials have also tightened safety measures, particularly around the port, as a precaution against the rodent-borne virus, which is not commonly spread between people, though experts say it may be possible.
Passengers have been following health precautions such as wearing masks and maintaining distance, reminiscent of protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ship’s operator said it has activated its highest-level response, including strict isolation, hygiene controls, and continuous health monitoring.
Plans for evacuation remain uncertain. The company said two aircraft were en route to evacuate two critically ill individuals and another person accompanying a passenger who died onboard. They are expected to be transported to the Netherlands, though timing remains unclear.
After the evacuation, the vessel is expected to sail to either Gran Canaria or Tenerife, a journey estimated to take about three days, pending coordination with authorities.
The WHO reported a total of seven cases linked to the outbreak: three deaths, one critically ill patient already evacuated, and three individuals with mild symptoms. Two cases — including one fatality — have been confirmed as hantavirus.
The first death, a Dutch passenger, occurred on April 11. His body was later removed at Saint Helena. His wife subsequently died after collapsing at an airport in Johannesburg. Another patient was evacuated from Ascension Island and is currently in intensive care in South Africa.
WHO official Maria Van Kerkhove said investigations are ongoing into possible human-to-human transmission, though initial findings suggest the first case may have been infected before boarding. Authorities have also reported no evidence of rodents on the ship.
Officials in Argentina confirmed that no passengers showed symptoms before departure, noting that hantavirus can take up to eight weeks to manifest. South African authorities have initiated contact tracing but stressed that the overall risk to public health remains low.