A Dutch couple who died after a hantavirus outbreak on board the cruise ship MV Hondius are believed to have contracted the illness while birdwatching in Argentina, according to officials.
Authorities in Argentina said their leading theory is that the two passengers, both aged 69, were exposed to the rodent borne virus while visiting a landfill site in the city of Ushuaia before boarding the vessel.
The couple reportedly joined the ship on April 1, 2026, and the husband developed flu like symptoms five days later. He died on April 11, while his wife later fell ill and died in Johannesburg on April 26 after travelling through Saint Helena.
The family of the couple said: “We cannot yet comprehend that we have to miss them. We want to bring them home in peace and remember them.” The outbreak aboard the luxury cruise liner has since sparked an international health response after several more suspected and confirmed cases emerged during the ship’s voyage towards Cape Verde.
