How Cruises Became Modern-Day Plague Ships | The Walrus

MV Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, carrying about 150 passengers bound for South Atlantic islands. On April 6, a passenger developed gastrointestinal symptoms and later respiratory distress, dying on April 11. The ship continued to several remote British Overseas Territories, including Saint Helena, where the ill passenger’s body was brought ashore and another passenger also developed gastrointestinal symptoms. That passenger flew to South Africa, collapsed in Johannesburg, and died shortly after ICU admission. Additional passengers became ill during later stops. UK officials notified the World Health Organization on May 2, and by May 8 six passengers tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, known for potential person-to-person spread.

"While the ship visited South Georgia, on April 6, Leo took ill with gastrointestinal symptoms. He deteriorated and developed respiratory distress before dying on board on April 11. Hondius went on to stop at Tristan da Cunha, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island, Gough Island, and Saint Helena-isolated and scarcely populated British Overseas Territories on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge."

"Saint Helena, alone among these, has an airport, and here, Leo's body was brought ashore. Mirjam came ashore too. She had also developed gastrointestinal symptoms. She flew to South Africa, intending to continue home to the Netherlands, but she collapsed in the Johannesburg airport and was admitted to a local ICU. She died shortly thereafter."

"On a subsequent stop at Ascension Island, another passenger, a United Kingdom national, went ashore, having taken ill. On May 2, UK officials notified the World Health Organization that a cluster of severe respiratory illness had broken out on Hondius, that there had been two deaths, and that another passenger was critically ill."

"By May 8, six passengers were confirmed to have tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus. This strain has been associated with person-to-person spread in the past; it is the only known strain of hantavirus that has demonstrated this ability."

Read at The Walrus