Passenger Speaks Out as Mystery Illness Leaves Cruise Ship Stranded Off Cape Verde

Photographer: Pegpilot - ShipSpotting.com

A passenger aboard the expedition vessel MV Hondius is speaking out as fear and uncertainty grow on board, following multiple deaths and a suspected outbreak of Hantavirus.

The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, remains off the coast of Cape Verde while health authorities work to determine the nature of the situation and whether the cases are connected.

"I am currently on board the m/v Hondius, and what’s happening right now is very real for all of us here," the passenger said. "We’re not just a story, we’re not just headlines — we’re people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home."

"There’s a lot of uncertainty, and that’s the hardest part. All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity, and to get home," he added. "So if you’re seeing coverage about this, just remember that there are real people behind it and that this isn’t something happening somewhere far away. It’s happening to us right now."

Confirmed Case, Multiple Deaths

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory-confirmed, while five additional suspected cases remain under investigation. Of the six individuals affected, three have died, and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa.

However, officials have not yet established a direct link between the virus and the deaths.

Timeline of Events

According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the situation has unfolded over several weeks:

• April 11 — A Dutch passenger dies; the cause is undetermined at the time
• April 24 — The body is disembarked in Saint Helena
• April 27 — The passenger’s wife falls ill during return travel and later dies
• April 27 — Another passenger is medically evacuated to South Africa; later found to carry a hantavirus variant
• May 2 — A German passenger dies; cause not yet confirmed

In addition, two crew members—one British and one Dutch—are experiencing acute respiratory symptoms and require urgent medical attention.

At this stage, hantavirus has not been confirmed in those two crew members, and investigators have not established whether all cases are connected.

Ship Remains at Sea

The Hondius currently has 149 people on board from more than 20 nationalities. The vessel remains at sea as medical evacuations and disembarkation require authorization from local health authorities.

Oceanwide Expeditions says it is working with international and regional partners, including the WHO, to coordinate next steps. Authorities are considering allowing the ship to proceed to the Canary Islands—such as Las Palmas or Tenerife—where passengers could disembark and undergo further medical screening.