The luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, is waiting off the coast of Cabo Verde, south of the Canary Islands, with the aim of disembarking two crew members with "serious medical problems". Among passengers and crew, at least, one hantavirus infection and the death of three passengers have been confirmed, as well as two more sick people.
Oceanwide Expeditions has announced that they have not yet obtained the approval of the Cape Verdean authorities to disembark the two sick workers, of British and Dutch nationality, in the country, since local authorization is necessary for the disembarkation of passengers or their medical evaluation. Faced with this situation, they are waiting off the coast of the island of Santiago, but have informed that they are considering the possibility of sailing and disembarking at the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or Santa Cruz, in Tenerife, so that passengers with symptoms can be examined by a doctor. This ship had the archipelago as its destination port before the outbreak was detected.
According to the Government Delegation of Spain in the Canary Islands, as reported to La Voz, the Area of External Health is coordinating with different bodies activated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to apply "evidence-based and risk-assessment" health measures. For the moment, meetings are being held with the Deputy Directorate of External Health of the Ministry of Health, as well as with the Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies to address actions in case a stopover has to occur in the Canary Islands.
The company indicated at noon this Monday that 149 people are traveling on the vessel between crew and passengers, fourteen of them of Spanish nationality. For the moment, Oceanwide Expeditions is in "close collaboration" with local authorities, including those in the Canary Islands. As well as with the World Health Organization, the National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection of the Netherlands, the embassies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
Chronology: three dead and one admitted to the ICU
The ship MV Hondius set sail from Argentina on March 20, on a route that also included continental Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Islands, Nightingale Island, and Tristan Island.
According to the chronology of the medical situation on board the MV Hondius. released by the company, the first death on board occurred on April 11, three weeks ago. The body of a Dutch passenger was disembarked thirteen days later, on April 24, in Santa Elena, Argentina.
The deceased's wife accompanied his body so that it could be repatriated. However, Oceanwide Expeditions assures that they were informed that the wife fell ill during the return trip and also ended up dying. Despite the current medical situation, the company has maintained the stance that "there is no confirmation" that the cases are related, given the alert of a possible hantavirus outbreak on board.
On April 27, the third passenger, this time British, who was evacuated to South Africa, where he continues to be treated in intensive care in critical condition, fell ill. This patient was diagnosed with a hantavirus variant.
Two days ago, on May 2nd, another passenger, of German nationality, died, the third death, whose causes of death have not yet been clarified.
Oceanwide has reported that isolation measures, hygiene protocols, and medical monitoring are being carried out on board.
