The Dutch‑flagged cruise liner MV Hondius, sailing from Ushuaia in early April, has been stranded off Cape Verde after a hantavirus outbreak sickened passengers and crew. Three passengers—a Dutch couple and a German national—have died, and at least three others are ill. Health officials confirmed two cases, while the remaining infections are suspected. The vessel, rated for luxury eco‑tourism, was on a 30‑day itinerary.

Oceanwide Expeditions says Cape Verde authorities have not granted disembarkation permission, leaving about 150 guests and crew aboard. The company is weighing a sail to the Canary Islands, about 1,000 miles northeast, as an evacuation point. Two crew members with respiratory symptoms and an associate of the German victim are being evacuated to South Africa. Negotiations involve Dutch consular officials and agencies, complicating logistics.

The outbreak underscores the vulnerability of expedition cruises that frequent remote wildlife habitats, prompting insurers and regulators to reassess risk protocols. Travel insurers have flagged higher premiums, and regulators may tighten quarantine rules. With the WHO still tracing the virus source, passengers remain confined while authorities negotiate a safe exit.