Brits trapped on luxury cruise ship after suspected hantavirus outbreak

WorldHealth & Fitness
5 May 2026 • 12:58 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Brits trapped on luxury cruise ship after suspected hantavirus outbreak

  • More than 20 British nationals are stranded on the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius luxury cruise ship off Cape Verde due to a suspected hantavirus outbreak.
  • Three people, a Dutch couple and a German national, have died, and at least three others are ill, including a 69-year-old British tourist in intensive care.
  • The World Health Organisation confirmed at least one case of hantavirus, prompting an investigation into the outbreak.
  • The ship has been denied docking permission in Cape Verde to protect public health, with authorities assessing the situation for disembarkation and medical screening.
  • Hantavirus is typically spread by rodents and has a low risk of human-to-human transmission, though the exact source of the infection on board remains under investigation.

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