Some infected passengers have already been evacuated from the ship.Image: keystone
After the hantavirus broke out on the cruise ship MV Hondius, the World Health Organization is trying to prevent its spread. An infected person who has since died was traveling on a plane before her cruise. Now the other passengers are being looked for.
May 6, 2026, 3:02 p.mMay 6, 2026, 3:02 p.m
So far, the hantavirus that broke out on the cruise ship MV Hondius has claimed three lives. It concerns an older couple from the Netherlands and a person from Germany. The Dutchwoman flew from St. Helena to South Africa on April 25th. She ultimately died in the hospital as a result of the virus after her husband had already died.
There were other passengers on the plane that took the woman to South Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) now fears that further infections could have occurred. She is now trying to track down the 82 passengers as quickly as possible, as the media reports.
Specifically, it is said to be Airlink flight 4Z132. The Embraer 190 departed St Helena at 2.40pm on April 25 and arrived in Johannesburg at 8.31pm local time. The WHO reports that the search for the affected passengers has been initiated.
Transmission of the hantavirus from person to person is actually unusual. Nevertheless, the World Health Organization now assumes that a similar transmission occurred on board the MV Hondius. (front)