A hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius has taken a dangerous turn as World Health Organization officials confirm the virus is spreading between people for the first time, with seven confirmed or suspected cases and three deaths reported.

Deadly Transmission Confirmed

Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the Emerging Diseases and Zoonoses unit at WHO, confirmed the alarming development during a media briefing. The virus, normally transmitted only through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, now appears to be passing between passengers through close contact. The outbreak started approximately one month ago when the cruise ship departed Argentina on April 1, bound for Cape Verde with stops across the Atlantic Ocean.

The first victim, a Dutch man, developed fever, headache, and mild diarrhea on April 6. Four days later, he suffered respiratory distress and died aboard the ship. Officials believe he contracted the infection before boarding, as hantavirus typically takes several weeks to show symptoms. The second victim, a woman who had close contact with the first case, fell ill on April 24 while going ashore at Saint Helena. Her condition deteriorated during a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, and she died upon reaching an emergency department on April 26.

THE INFORMANT

@TheInformantUSA

🚨 A KC-135R Stratotanker declared an emergency over the Strait of Hormuz.

🇺🇸 The aircraft activated code 7700 before disappearing from civilian radar.

📅 The incident occurred on May 5, 2026, amid regional tensions.

📡 Reports point to heavy GPS jamming and signal

5:00 PM · May 5, 2026

Ship Remains Under Quarantine

As of May 4, the MV Hondius sits moored off the coast of Cape Verde with 147 people aboard, including 88 passengers. Officials have ordered everyone to practice strict physical distancing and remain in their rooms whenever possible. A third male passenger remains in intensive care in South Africa after testing positive on May 2. The ship’s 147 occupants face evacuation, with symptomatic cases prioritized for removal first.

Rare But Deadly Threat

Only the Andes virus, predominantly found in South America, is known to spread between people. The virus causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a life-threatening condition attacking the heart and lungs. Roughly one-third of infected patients die from complications. Despite the current outbreak, WHO maintains the risk to the general public remains low because transmission requires close, prolonged contact. Health officials continue tracking anyone who contacted infected passengers while working to identify the specific virus strain responsible for the outbreak.