Rare virus outbreak on cruise ship: three passengers died, fourth in intensive care – The Netherlands will repatriate sick crew members | News

The Dutch cruise line Oceanwide Expeditions investigates the origin and possible spread of it hantavirus on board the MV Hondius. The company confirmed this in a press statement on the night of Sunday to Monday one person on board has tested positive on the virus. This concerns a patient who is currently admitted to intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) previously reported this.

According to Oceanwide Expeditions, it is not yet clear whether the deaths of three passengers, including two Dutch people according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are related to the hantavirus. Also his two sick crew members still on board have not tested positive for the virusthe cruise line said. “The exact cause and possible link are currently under investigation,” the company said.

The WHO speaks of it one confirmed and five possible infections with the hantavirus. People who are infected can develop severe respiratory illness, fever, bleeding and kidney function disorders. The hantavirus can spread from person to person, although this is rare.

WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus writes on X that the WHO facilitates the medical evacuation of the sick passengers. There is currently no permission from the Cape Verdean authorities to disembark people for medical assistance.

According to Oceanwide Expeditions Netherlands to bring the sick crew members to the Netherlands, together with the body of a deceased crew member who is still on board and a relative of this person.

The cruise company could not say anything about the nationality of these people during the night from Sunday to Monday. The company hopes to provide more information during the day.

The Netherlands goes the repatriation leading from two sick crew members on board the ship m/v Hondius that is anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, the Dutch cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions reported in a press release late on Sunday evening. Three passengers be on board the ship dead.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least one tested positive for it hantavirus.

There is currently no permission from the Cape Verdean authorities to disembark people for medical assistance, the cruise line reports. Medical staff went on board to assess the condition of the patients. The sick crew members “in urgent need of medical care”according to Oceanwide Expeditions.

The repatriation which is led by the Netherlands, “is depending on many factors“, according to Oceanwide Expeditions. It is the The intention is that the body of one of the deceased passengers will also be brought back to the Netherlands, together with a loved one. That person has no symptoms. Nothing is clear about the nationalities of these people.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BuZa) has confirmed that two Dutch passengers on a small-scale cruise ship have died. According to a spokesperson, a Dutchman became ill on board and the person died mid-April during a trip from Argentina to Cape Verde. The second Dutch person, who also became ill, was transferred to South Africa, where the person died.

The Dutch ministry can report from foreign media cannot yet confirm that it concerns a married couple that would have been affected by the hantavirus. The ministry also does not provide any information about the cause of death of the two.

BuZa does not know where the bodies of the Dutch are located. “Given the time of death, it is obvious that the bodies have already been handed over to the relatives. But we cannot confirm this,” a spokesperson said.

The Dutch cruise company could not be reached for further explanation on Sunday evening. According to foreign media, there is another one on board third person died. Also would three others sick have become.

The ship with the other passengers is anchored near Cape Verde. It is unclear how the other passengers are doing. BuZa reports that the crew members have been asked to remain in their cabins. It is unclear whether there is a quarantine situation.

Family or acquaintances of other Dutch passengers can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consular assistance, information and all other support, the spokesperson said.

Being able to get on board 170 passengers and again approximately seventy crew members and guides. It is unclear whether there are actually that many people on board the ship. The Dutch shipping company Oceanwide Expeditions could not be reached for comment.

The WHO is discussing evacuating two people who have fallen ill. The organization praises, among other things, the speed with which measures were taken.

The first person those severe symptoms of a acute respiratory syndrome showed, was a 70 year old man. He died on board the ship. His body is located on the island of Saint Helena, a British island in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Also his 69 year old wife has died. She was evacuated to South Africa in a critical condition, but died shortly afterwards in a hospital in Johannesburg.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it concerns a Dutch couple.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been informed. “Research is ongoing and a coordinated international public health response is underway,” the WHO said. According to the WHO, the hantavirus can spread spread from person to person, though that is rare.

The Hondius is currently moored at the port of Praiathe capital of Cape Verde. The ship may then go to the Spanish Canary Islands.

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that mainly… spread be by rodentsoften through direct or indirect contact with their urine, feces or saliva.

There are different types of hantaviruses. People who are infected can have serious complications respiratory diseases, fever, bleeding and renal function disorders to get.

A 70-year-old man and his 69-year-old wife are the first to die after… showed severe symptoms of acute respiratory syndrome. Another victim, one 69 year old Britbecame seriously ill and was transferred to Johannesburg. He’s in the ward intensive care. Foster Mohale, the spokesperson for the South African Ministry of Health, confirms that the Briton has tested positive for a hantavirus.

On Sunday evening, the WHO reported one third death. “To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been confirmed in the laboratory, and there are five other suspected cases. Of the six people affected, three have died and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa,” it said.

A deadly virus outbreak has been detected on the cruise ship MV Hondius, which sails on the Atlantic Ocean. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), three passengers have died.

The MV Hondius was crossing from Ushuaia, in the far south of Argentina, to the Cape Verde archipelago when the virus struck.