Two Indian crew members aboard cruise ship hit by hantavirus outbreak in Atlantic

Two Indian crew members are among the 149 people aboard the luxury expedition ship MV Hondius, which has been struck by a deadly hantavirus outbreak in the Atlantic Ocean that has already claimed three lives and infected eight passengers.

The vessel, operated by Dutch polar travel company Oceanwide Expeditions, is currently sailing towards Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands after being ordered to halt at Cape Verde following the outbreak.

The travel company confirmed to India Today TV that two Indian nationals were part of the ship’s multinational crew. However, no details were disclosed regarding their identities, health status, duties on board, or possible exposure to infected passengers.

The outbreak has triggered an international public health response, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and several countries monitoring passengers and tracing contacts across continents.

How the outbreak began

The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1 with 149 passengers and crew representing 23 nationalities. Most of the passengers are from the US, Germany, Great Britain, and Spain. Argentine investigators believe the outbreak began during a birdwatching excursion near Ushuaia, where a Dutch couple may have inhaled microscopic particles contaminated by infected rodent droppings.

The passengers reportedly showed no symptoms before boarding the ship.

Also Read: How a rare Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship triggered a global health probe

The first death occurred on April 11, when a passenger died on board. The body was later disembarked at St Helena on April 24. Days later, the passenger’s wife also died after falling ill during her return journey. Both were Dutch nationals.

On April 27, another passenger developed severe symptoms and was airlifted to Johannesburg, South Africa, where doctors confirmed infection with the Andes strain of hantavirus. The patient remains in critical but stable condition.

A third passenger, a German national, died on board on May 2.

Rare virus with high fatality rate

Hantavirus is primarily carried by rodents and spreads to humans through airborne particles from dried urine or droppings. The Andes strain, found in the Americas, is particularly concerning because it can spread between humans through extremely close contact.

Health officials stressed that transmission does not occur casually or through ordinary proximity.

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WHO official Maria Van Kerkhove said infections are generally linked to “very close physical contact” such as sharing cabins or providing medical care without protection.

The virus initially resembles common flu symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle pain, but severe cases can rapidly progress to respiratory failure and shock. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment.

Concern over delayed symptoms

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the overall public health risk remains low, noting that only eight people fell ill despite weeks of close quarters aboard the vessel.

However, health authorities remain concerned because the incubation period can extend up to six weeks, increasing the possibility of fresh cases emerging after passengers return home.

Earlier cases in India

India has previously recorded hantavirus infections, including cases identified in Tamil Nadu among farmers, warehouse workers, and tribal rodent catchers. Experts say the greater concern for India is underdiagnosis, as the illness often resembles dengue or leptospirosis.

Also Read: Is India at risk of HMPV outbreak? ‘Nothing to be alarmed about,’ says health body

The MV Hondius is expected to dock in Tenerife on May 11, where passengers will undergo medical assessment and the ship will be disinfected. The condition of the two Indian crew members remains unknown.