The MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise with almost 150 people onboard, off the coast of Cape Verde, reported a suspicious hantavirus outbreak, which caused three deaths and a At least three seriously ill passengers include 17 Americans, and the fatal victims are a Dutchman and two Germans.

The World Health Organization(WHO) stated that it is working with local authorities and ship operators to bring to cab or a “complete assessment of public health risk” and coordinate the evacuation of sick people, reported Associated Press (AP).

Let us remember that this disease gained notoriety in 2025, after the wife of late actor Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa, died from a hantavirus infection in New Mexico.

What is hantavirus and how is transmitted?

Hantavirus is transmitted primarily through contact with the urine and feces of infected rodents. Although considered rare and not easily transmissible between people, the outbreak has sparked an alert response from health authorities.

People are often exposed to hantavirus in their homes, cabin or sheds, especially when cleaning enclosed spaces with poor ventilation or when exploring areas where there are mouse droppings.

Although the WHO states that, although they occur rarely, hantaviruses can also be transmitted directly between people.

The Centers for Disease Control Prevention(CDC) began tracking the virus after a b rotated in 1993 in the Four Corners region, the area where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah converge.

“It's a terrible disease,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, a retired Seattle public health official who helped characterize this first-known outbreak of the disease in the 90s. However, explains: “It’s not always fatal nor always serious, but it’s believed that the mortality rate reaches 40%, which is really high,” reported NBC News.

Hantavirus symptoms

The initial symptoms of hantavirus resemble those of a flu and are key for people at risk, such as those exposed to rodents in rural areas, to seek immediate medical care.

Initial symptoms

These appear between 1 and 8 weeks after exposure and last 3-5 days:

Severe symptoms (pulmonary phase)

They appear 4-10 days later and require urgent care due to risk of respiratory failure (mortality ~40%):

People at risk

Farmers, campers or residents in areas with wild rodents should keep an eye on these signs, since the virus is transmitted by inhaling aerosols from feces, urine or rodent saliva.

Prevention measures

To avoid exposure to hantavirus, transmitted mainly by wild rodents and their excreta, it is key to minimize contact with these animals and their contaminated habitats.

In the home and rural areas

Outdoors or in activities

Are there treatments against hantavirus?

There is no specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus, so management focuses on intensive supportive care to improve the chances of survival.

Main care. Patients usually require immediate hospitalization, frequently in ICU, with supplementary oxygen and mechanical ventilation in severe cases to treat respiratory sufficiency and fluid accumulation in the lungs.

Advanced interventions. In critical situations, endotracheal intubation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or machines can be used to oxygenate the blood, along with renal support if there are complications.

Experimental options. Some protocols include convalescent plasma from survivors or tocilizumab for severe cases, but are not standard universally approved treatments.