At least two Indian nationals are among the crew members aboard the Dutch luxury expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, which has reported a hantavirus outbreak that has already claimed multiple lives and raised international health concerns.
According to international reports, the ship was carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew members from 28 different countries during its voyage that began on April 1 from Ushuaia, Argentina. The vessel later became the center of a major health scare after several passengers and crew developed symptoms linked to hantavirus.
So far, at least three deaths and several confirmed infections have been linked to the outbreak onboard. Health authorities across multiple countries are now conducting investigations and contact tracing efforts to contain any further spread of the virus.
Reports stated that the two Indian nationals were working as crew members on the ship. However, their current health status has not yet been officially confirmed.
The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, had stopped at several remote locations during its journey before the outbreak was identified. The ship is expected to reach Spain’s Canary Islands under strict international health monitoring protocols.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease usually spread through contact with infected rodents or their droppings. Health experts say human-to-human transmission is uncommon, though certain strains such as the Andes virus have shown limited transmission between people.
Despite growing concerns, the World Health Organization (WHO) and health experts have clarified that the outbreak does not currently indicate the start of a pandemic and that the overall public health risk remains low.
