Passengers Observe COVID Style Rules Amid Hantavirus Cases
Strips of newspaper with the words Hantavirus typed on them. Black and white. Close up.
Passengers aboard the MV Hondius are now observing strict health protocols similar to those seen during the COVID 19 pandemic as international health authorities investigate a rare hantavirus outbreak linked to multiple deaths on the vessel.
The outbreak has drawn global attention after three passengers died and several others fell ill during the ship’s Atlantic crossing. Health agencies in Europe, Africa, and South America have since launched contact tracing operations as concerns grow over the spread of the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare variant capable of limited human to human transmission.
Reports from international media organisations, including The New York Times and Reuters, indicate that passengers have been instructed to wear face masks, maintain physical distancing, regularly sanitise their hands, and avoid unnecessary close contact while remaining under medical observation onboard. Dining arrangements have also been adjusted to reduce crowding, with sanitiser stations positioned across the ship.
Spain has confirmed that the vessel will be permitted to dock in Tenerife in the Canary Islands despite objections from regional authorities. Spanish Health Minister Mónica GarcÃa said passengers who are medically cleared would be allowed to return to their home countries after arrival.
However, the decision has generated political and public concern in the Canary Islands. Regional president Fernando Clavijo publicly questioned why the ship should continue its journey to Tenerife amid fears of further infections and pressure on local healthcare facilities.
The World Health Organization has confirmed that the outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, a virus primarily associated with rodent exposure in parts of South America. Unlike most hantavirus strains, the Andes variant has previously shown evidence of limited transmission between humans through prolonged close contact.
WHO said the overall risk to the wider public remains low, although authorities continue monitoring passengers and crew across several countries due to the virus’s incubation period, which can extend to about six weeks.
Medical evacuations have already taken place. Three passengers, including individuals with severe respiratory symptoms, were flown to the Netherlands for treatment, while Switzerland confirmed that a returning passenger tested positive and is receiving care in Zurich.
South African authorities have also begun tracing potential contacts linked to the ship. Health officials there disclosed that dozens of individuals had already been identified and placed under observation.
Investigators are examining whether the original exposure may have occurred earlier during travel in Argentina, where hantavirus infections have historically been reported.
Health experts say hantavirus infections remain rare globally but can become severe when they affect the lungs, kidneys, or heart. Early symptoms commonly include fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, dizziness, and stomach related illness, while serious cases can progress to breathing difficulties caused by fluid buildup in the lungs.