The BRICS TimesA deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship sailing the Atlantic Ocean has claimed three lives and left a British passenger fighting for survival in intensive care reigniting fears about the rare rodent-borne virus that killed actress Betsy Arakawa, wife of Hollywood legend Gene Hackman, earlier last year.
A Deadly Outbreak at Sea
A shocking hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship sailing the Atlantic Ocean has killed three passengers and left three others critically ill. The World Health Organization confirmed it is actively supporting the public health emergency aboard the MV Hondius a Dutch-flagged polar cruise vessel operated by Oceanwide Expeditions. Around 150 tourists were on board when the outbreak struck. The ship had left Argentina roughly three weeks before, making stops in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and other Atlantic destinations — before heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands.
Who Are the Victims?
Two of the three dead were a married Dutch couple in their late 60s and early 70s. The husband a 70-year-old man collapsed and died on arrival at Saint Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic. His 69-year-old wife later collapsed at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport while trying to fly home to the Netherlands. She died at a nearby health facility. A British passenger whose hantavirus infection was the only lab-confirmed case is currently fighting for his life in a South African hospital. WHO says it worked to medically evacuate two other symptomatic passengers still aboard the ship.
WHO Steps In, Investigation Underway
The World Health Organization has confirmed it is actively managing the crisis. “WHO is aware of and supporting a public health event involving a cruise vessel sailing in the Atlantic Ocean,” the agency stated. It added “Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations. Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew.” Virus sequencing is also in progress to determine the exact strain involved. South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases launched contact tracing across the Johannesburg region tracking anyone who may have crossed paths with infected passengers.
The Ship Sits Stranded Off Cape Verde
As of Sunday night, the MV Hondius remained anchored off Praia the capital of Cape Verde, an island nation off West Africa’s coast. Cape Verde authorities visited the ship to assess conditions but did not allow the remaining symptomatic passengers to come ashore. The vessel, described as a specialist polar expedition cruise ship, typically carries around 70 crew members in addition to its tourist passengers.
What Is Hantavirus And Why Is It So Dangerous?
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially lethal family of viruses found across the world. It spreads mainly through contact with infected rodents particularly their urine, feces, or saliva. Rats, mice, and in North America the deer mouse are the most common carriers. Once inside the human body, hantavirus can trigger a severe lung condition called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, or HPS. Early symptoms often look deceptively ordinary fatigue, fever, muscle aches, headaches, chills, and dizziness. Some patients also experience nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. But the illness can escalate rapidly progressing into intense coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness as the lungs fill with dangerous fluid. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of patients who develop respiratory symptoms die. There is no vaccine, no cure, and no specific treatment only early medical attention can improve survival odds.
The Gene Hackman Connection
The current outbreak has drawn fresh attention to a tragedy that shocked America earlier in 2025. Betsy Arakawa the wife of Hollywood icon Gene Hackman died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome at the couple’s home in New Mexico. She was 65. Hackman, 95 and already suffering from heart disease and Alzheimer’s, died approximately one week later. Authorities found their bodies at the property. New Mexico health officials said the most common carrier in that state is the deer mouse. While the risk inside the Hackman home itself was assessed as low officials confirmed signs of rodent activity in other structures on the estate. State public health veterinarian Erin Phipps said at the time “We did identify signs of rodent entry in other structures on the property.” The exact route of Arakawa’s infection was never definitively determined.
How To Stay Safe From Hantavirus
Health experts stress that anyone cleaning up after a rodent infestation must take serious precautions. Phipps advised wearing gloves and an N95 respirator and keeping windows open. She also warned “Never sweep up or vacuum mouse droppings, since this can spread particles up into the air.” Disinfectants and careful ventilation remain the most important protective measures. While human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is rare, WHO cautioned this week that it is not impossible. “While rare, hantavirus may spread between people, and can lead to severe respiratory illness,” the agency said underscoring the need for careful patient monitoring on the ship.
