Three people were evacuated on Wednesday from the MV Hondius, a luxury cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has triggered an international health response spanning Europe, Africa and South America.
The World Health Organization said the evacuees included two crew members with symptoms and one contact case connected to a confirmed infection.
The ship, carrying about 150 people from 23 countries, has remained anchored off Cape Verde after regional authorities in Spain’s Canary Islands refused permission for it to dock.
Health officials have confirmed that the outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare variant capable of limited human-to-human transmission through prolonged close contact.
Three passengers — a Dutch couple and a German national — have died since the outbreak was first reported.
The vessel departed southern Argentina in early April before travelling through remote Atlantic destinations on its route toward Cape Verde.
The WHO said eight cases have been identified so far, including three laboratory-confirmed hantavirus infections.
Authorities in Switzerland confirmed a new case involving a passenger who travelled on the Hondius and is receiving treatment in Zurich.
In South Africa, a British national remains in intensive care after contracting the virus.
Dutch and French health authorities are also tracing passengers connected to earlier commercial flights involving infected travellers.
KLM said one passenger who later died had briefly boarded a Johannesburg-to-Netherlands flight before being removed prior to take-off.
French officials said a French national was being monitored after exposure during a separate flight linked to one of the deceased passengers.
Spain’s national government said the ship is expected to reach Tenerife within days, although Canary Islands officials continue to oppose the decision.
Regional President Fernando Clavijo said authorities lacked sufficient information to guarantee public safety.
Passengers aboard the Hondius described a calm atmosphere despite stricter health precautions.
Travel blogger Kasem Hato said passengers were practicing distancing measures and wearing masks while remaining informed by the ship’s leadership.
Another passenger, Jake Rosmarin, said meals were being delivered to cabins while outside deck access remained available.
The WHO has maintained that the overall risk to the wider public remains “low,” emphasizing that transmission between humans requires very close and prolonged contact.