Russian health regulators are monitoring a potential hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, with preliminary reports indicating at least two deaths among passengers.
Since its initial report on May 4, Rospotrebnadzor—the Russian federal service for medical and epidemiological surveillance—has been tracking developments related to hantavirus infections on board the vessel, which is currently en route from Argentina to Cape Verde.
Rospotrebnadzor stated that it has requested laboratory test results from Dutch authorities under international medical and sanitary protocols, as the ship flies the Dutch flag. The agency also noted it has intensified sanitary and quarantine measures at border checkpoints and implemented a risk assessment system to prevent infection transmission. Rospotrebnadzor confirmed Russia possesses diagnostic testing capabilities for hantavirus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged severe cases of acute respiratory illness on the ship, with preliminary data suggesting an outbreak of hantavirus.
