Two medical evacuation flights today picked up two sick passengers and one passenger who may be infected from the Dutch cruise ship m/v Hondius, which is currently anchored off the coast of Cabo Verde.
The evacuees are a British national (56), a Dutch national (41) and a German national (65). Upon arrival they will be transferred directly to specialist hospitals in Europe.
Cruise ship m/v Hondius
Medical evacuation of passengers
As the ship is flying the Dutch flag, the Netherlands is coordinating assistance for those on board through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry is in close contact with the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the ship’s operator, and the authorities in Cabo Verde and other countries involved. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs facilitated the evacuation in cooperation with Dutch embassies in the region.
Current situation on m/v Hondius
The m/v Hondius was en route from Argentina to Cabo Verde with around 150 people from various countries on board. Several people have since fallen ill. Two Dutch nationals have died, one of whom has been confirmed to have had hantavirus. Hantavirus has also been detected in another passenger who is currently in intensive care in Johannesburg. The cause of death of a passenger who died on board the ship on 2 May has not yet been determined.
It is now clear that the established cases involved the Andes variant of hantavirus. RIVM is involved in the preventive measures on board the ship and in the medical evacuation. The possibility that this was the Andes variant was taken into account from the outset.
Two medical specialists from the Netherlands are now on their way to Cabo Verde to provide support on board the ship and ensure optimal medical care during the crossing.
Read more about hantaviruses on the RIVM website.