Unwell British crew member to be ‘urgently’ evacuated from cruise ship after hantavirus cases | Infectious diseases

A British crew member who fell ill following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a luxury cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean will be medically evacuated, officials said.

The crew member, together with a Dutch colleague, prepares for a medical evacuation from the MV Hondius, and Dutch authorities manage the operation.

Tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions said two crew members needed “urgent medical attention” after experiencing respiratory symptoms.

Dr. from the World Health Organization (WHO). Maria Van Kerkhove said the “top priority” was to medically evacuate the two people and make sure they had the necessary care. [need]”.

Spain’s health ministry confirmed on Tuesday evening that the MV Hondius would be delivered to the Canary Islands “within three or four days”, where medical teams will examine and treat all passengers and crew and transport them to their home countries.

“The World Health Organization announced that Cape Verde cannot perform this operation,” the health ministry said.

“The Canary Islands are the closest place with the necessary capacity. Spain has a moral and legal obligation to help these people, including many Spanish citizens.”

The condition of a British passenger who showed symptoms of hantavirus, a disease mostly seen in rodents, is understood to be improving. The passenger was medically evacuated to Johannesburg on 27 April and remains in intensive care.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government was “putting plans in place” for onward travel for Britons stranded on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship.

Starmer said in a post on

A total of seven suspected cases were identified, including three people who died. Two of the cases were confirmed to be hantavirus.

Van Kerkhove said on Tuesday: “As of today, seven people out of 147 passengers and crew have been reported to have fallen ill. Unfortunately, three people have died.

“One patient in South Africa is in intensive care, but we understand that this patient is recovering, while two patients are still on board and preparing for medical evacuation to the Netherlands for treatment.”

Van Kerkhove added that another suspected case had been reported, but that person “is currently doing well and is asymptomatic.”

“At this stage there are no other symptomatic people on board,” he said.

“However, the situation is being closely monitored and passengers have been asked to remain in their cabins as a precaution while disinfection and other public health measures are taken.”

There are 19 British nationals and four British crew members listed as passengers on the ship, which sailed from Argentina to Cape Verde, an archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa.

A UK government spokesman said: “We are working with the Dutch government on medical evacuation planning for sick passengers with local authorities of different nationalities, but this includes a British national.”

Medical teams from Cape Verde were providing support to the ship on Tuesday.