PRAIA, Cape Verde — May 4, 2026
Around 150 passengers and crew aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship are stranded off the coast of Cape Verde after local authorities refused to allow disembarkation due to a suspected Hantavirus outbreak, which has already claimed three lives.
Outbreak and Response
The MV Hondius, operated by Dutch cruise company Oceanwide Expedition, has been barred from docking in Cape Verde following reports of a potential Hantavirus infection among passengers. Three individuals have died, and one is currently in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa, with two others reported ill.
Cape Verdean health officials have defended their decision, citing the need to prevent the spread of the virus to the local population. The national health authorities' leader stated that the move was made "zum Schutz der kapverdischen Bevölkerung" ("to protect the Cape Verdean population").
Dutch authorities and Oceanwide Expedition are coordinating efforts to arrange a medical evacuation for the affected passengers. The situation remains fluid as officials work to contain the outbreak and provide care for those still on board.