A suspectedhantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondiushas left three passengers dead and several others ill, raising urgent questions about how the virus compares to COVID-19.
The Dutch-flagged expedition vessel, which departed Ushuaia on 20 March for a weeks-long Antarctic and Atlantic voyage, is now anchored off Cape Verde as health authorities investigate.
One case has been laboratory confirmed, with five more suspected. While the fatality rate has alarmed travellers, experts say the situation is fundamentally different from a COVID-style outbreak.
The outbreak unfolded during a 45-day travel covering Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands. According to reports, among six identified cases, three passengers — including an elderly Dutch couple — have died.
🇬🇧🇿🇦🇦🇷 A hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship has left 3 people dead and another in intensive care.The MV Hondius, a polar expedition vessel carrying around 170 passengers and 70 crew, was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde when 6 people became ill.3 have now died,...pic.twitter.com/TshiVVzIuW
A British passenger remains in intensive care in South Africa, while two crew members are still onboard and require urgent medical attention.
The World Health Organisation is leading the response alongside local authorities, with the vessel undergoing deep cleaning and environmental checks. Crucially, investigators have not found evidence of widespread person-to-person transmission, shifting focus to how exposure occurred.
Hantavirus is not a typical respiratory virus like COVID-19. According to experts, it is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine or saliva, often when particles become airborne in enclosed spaces.
On the Hondius, investigators are examining two main possibilities: a rodent presence onboard during the long trip, or exposure during land excursions in regions where infected rodents are known to exist. The virus can reportedly incubate for up to eight weeks, meaning exposure may have occurred early in the trip.
The comparison driving online searches — hantavirus vs COVID — comes down to two factors: severity and spread.
Source: International Business Times UK
