The Dutch MV Hondius cruise ship has been refused permission to dock in Cape Verde’s capital city Praia, after three people on board have died from suspected cases of Hantavirus.

The ship carrying 149 people was stranded off Cape Verde’s coast, after an elderly Dutch couple and a German national have died and three others fell ill. Four Australians were confirmed among the passengers.

A British passenger who was medically transferred off the ship in South Africa, remains in critical condition after testing positive for a strain of the Hantavirus.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that a variant of the Hantavirus has been identified in the female Dutch national who died on April 27. This brings the total number of cases to two.

Hantavirus is an infection contracted from exposure to rodent faeces, saliva and urine but is rarely spread between humans.

The Oceanwide Expedition’s most recent statement confirmed that passengers will remain on the cruise ship.

“We can confirm that guests will not be disembarking in Cape Verde, except for the three individuals who are planned to be medically evacuated,” they said.

WHO has assessed the global risk as low but will continue to update the risk assessment as more information becomes available.

Photo: MV Hondius by Fdesroches is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has not been modified.