Portuguese man aboard cruise ship hit by suspected virus outbreak – Portugal Resident
A Portuguese citizen is confirmed to be aboard the cruise ship Hondius, where three people have died following a suspected outbreak of a rare respiratory illness.
According to Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the man is a crew member and has not requested any consular assistance.
“The information we have at the moment is that the Portuguese citizen is well,” a ministry source told Lusa news agency.
The ship is currently off the coast of Praia, in Cape Verde, where health authorities are monitoring the situation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has linked at least one confirmed case to hantavirus, a rare virus typically associated with rodents. Three people have died in connection with a severe acute respiratory syndrome on board.
Ann Lindstrand, a WHO representative in Cape Verde, said the situation is now stabilised. “The situation is under control and the medical teams are now on the boat,” she said, adding that two crew members with symptoms are being assessed and may be evacuated by air ambulance to the Netherlands.
A third person, who shared a cabin with one of the victims, is also being evaluated for possible transfer.
Medical teams wearing full protective gear have boarded the vessel several times since it stopped near Praia on Sunday, May 3. Authorities say they are prepared to transfer patients to ambulances and onward to the airport if needed.
There are 147 people of 23 nationalities on board.
Samples from symptomatic individuals have been sent to the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, for analysis, with results expected by Tuesday, May 5.
Lindstrand praised the response of local authorities. “I want to congratulate the authorities of Cape Verde for the rapid and professional response, from the very first hour,” she said.
She added that while the situation is difficult for those on board, passengers are being kept informed. “For those on the boat, it is a very difficult situation, this waiting, from a mental health point of view, knowing what happened with the severe cases. But the captain and the health authorities are continuously informing the passengers.”
The cruise began in Argentina and included stops in Antarctica and the South Atlantic islands. After medical evacuations, the ship is expected to continue towards the Canary Islands.
Health officials say the risk of transmission remains low. “The risk of transmission (of hantavirus) between people is very low,” Lindstrand said, noting that while rare, the disease can be severe, with a mortality rate of around 35%.
Source: LUSA
