CRUISE SHIP STRANDED OFF WEST AFRICA AFTER RARE HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK KILLS 3 AND LEAVES DOZENS ISOLATED AS EVACUATION PLANS REMAIN UNCLEAR. (PHOTO).

 Cruise ship stranded off West Africa after rare hantavirus outbreak kills 3 and leaves dozens isolated as evacuation plans remain unclear

Footage from a cruise ship stranded off the coast of West Africa shows empty decks, masked medical crews moving through corridors, and passengers confined to cabins as authorities work to respond to a rare viral outbreak that has already killed three people and left others ill.

The vessel, carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew, is anchored in waters near Cape Verde amid an outbreak of hantavirus, a disease typically linked to exposure to contaminated rodent droppings. Health officials say at least four people are currently sick, while others remain under isolation as investigations continue into how the virus spread onboard.

The ship, the MV Hondius, departed from Argentina on April 1 for a long polar expedition toward Antarctica and remote islands in the South Atlantic before the outbreak halted its journey. Passengers described an uneasy but orderly atmosphere as they waited for instructions, with many remaining in their cabins while trying to maintain routines.

Medical teams equipped with protective gear have boarded the vessel to assess and treat passengers, according to images shared from onboard. Authorities in Cape Verde have also deployed doctors, nurses, and laboratory specialists, while tightening precautions at the port as a preventive measure.

Ship operators have activated emergency response protocols, including isolation measures, enhanced sanitation procedures, and continuous health monitoring of those onboard. Passengers have reported receiving regular updates while awaiting decisions on evacuation or onward travel.

International health officials have discussed possible evacuation options, including transferring ill passengers to Europe for treatment, though no final timeline has been confirmed. Spanish authorities have said they are monitoring developments and have not yet approved a port of entry for the vessel, while discussions continue over whether the ship could proceed to the Canary Islands.

So far, seven cases have been identified in connection with the outbreak, including three deaths, one critically ill patient who has been evacuated, and additional passengers reporting milder symptoms. Two of the confirmed cases tested positive for hantavirus.

The first death occurred earlier this month when a passenger died while the ship was still at sea. Their body was later transferred at a remote Atlantic stopover. Another passenger, the spouse of the deceased, later fell ill and died after traveling onward to South Africa. A third critically ill passenger was evacuated and is receiving intensive care.

Health officials are also examining whether limited human-to-human transmission may have occurred onboard, though they believe the initial infection likely originated before the voyage began. Authorities have stated that no rodents were reported on the vessel.

Officials in Argentina said passengers showed no symptoms when the ship departed, though hantavirus symptoms can take weeks to appear. South African authorities have begun contact tracing efforts as part of the broader investigation, while emphasizing that the overall risk to the public remains low.

For now, the ship remains at sea under close monitoring, with passengers describing a tense waiting period as they await word on evacuation plans and the next steps in the unfolding health emergency.