A serious viral epidemic spread on board the ship from Hondius expedition cruise caused the deaths of three passengers, while a quarter is currently hospitalized in intensive care in Johannesburg. The cruise line Oceanwide Expeditions, which operates the ship, said two crew members currently still on board the Hondius, located off the coast of Cape Verde, need treatment medical emergencies.

The company announced that late yesterday evening the authorities of Cape Verde had not yet granted the authorization to disembark passengers who require tests and medical care, while local health authorities have visited the ship to assess the condition of the two people who show symptoms. Oceanwide Expeditions also specified, that the Dutch authorities have agreed to coordinate a joint action to organise the return of the two people from Cape Verde to the Netherlands, and the repatriation of the body of a deceased person together with a A passenger closely related to her who has no symptoms. The company specified that repatriation depends on many factors, including authorisation and support from the authorities local health care of Cape Verde for the transfer of people who need medical attention.

The passenger who is hospitalized in Johannesburg, of British nationality, tested positive to hantavirus, a family of viruses that is transmitted mainly through contact with infected rodents or their excrement and which mainly affects the lungs or kidneys. The World Health Organization has announced that, In addition to the confirmed case of hantavirus, it is currently assumed that the virus may have infected five other people on board the ship.

The Hondius has a capacity of 170 passengers and 57 crew members.