![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
Three people, including a British crew member, have been evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak and are being flown to the Netherlands for treatment.
The development comes as a new case was confirmed in Switzerland, marking the first suspected infection outside the vessel itself. The World Health Organisation confirmed the evacuations on Wednesday, saying the patients were in stable condition and en route for specialist care.
A total of eight confirmed or suspected cases have now been identified, with three deaths recorded so far. The Dutch-flagged expedition ship, which had been on an Antarctic bird-watching voyage, has been stranded off Cape Verde after several ports refused entry due to the outbreak.
Passengers and crew remain largely confined to their cabins as disinfection and monitoring continue. The latest case in Switzerland involves a man who returned from South America at the end of April. He sought medical help after developing symptoms and was placed in isolation in Zurich.
Authorities say there is no immediate risk to the wider public. Health officials have identified the strain as the Andes variant, the only type of hantavirus known to transmit between humans, though such spread is rare and typically requires close contact. The World Health Organisation has described the overall public health risk as low.
Earlier, South African authorities confirmed that two people who left the ship were infected with the Andes strain. One, a British national, remains in intensive care in Johannesburg in a critical but stable condition. The other, a Dutch woman, died after returning home. A Dutch man and his wife, both 69, were among the first victims. The husband died on board on 11 April, while his wife passed away after disembarking.
A German citizen also died on the ship on 2 May.
Passengers have described life on board as a waiting game, with many trying to maintain normal routines through reading, watching films and limited interaction while wearing masks and practising social distancing.
Fresh fruit and vegetables were recently delivered, boosting morale. The ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said three patients with acute symptoms and one person closely associated with a deceased passenger would be evacuated by specialised aircraft.
Two infectious disease specialists from the Netherlands are expected to board the vessel to provide support. Regional authorities in Spain’s Canary Islands have expressed strong opposition to the ship docking there, despite the Spanish government indicating it has a moral and legal obligation to assist.
The Canary Islands leader has demanded an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, citing public safety concerns. The vessel was originally scheduled to end its voyage in Cape Verde, but local authorities refused to allow passengers to disembark.
Plans now point toward the Canary Islands once the immediate medical evacuations are complete, though no final port has been confirmed.
Hantavirus is typically transmitted from rodents to humans through contact with urine, droppings or saliva. Investigators believe the initial exposure likely occurred during shore excursions in Argentina before boarding. There were no rodent infestations reported on the ship itself.
The luxury Antarctic expedition cruise carried around 150 passengers and crew, with berth prices ranging from $16,000 to $25,000. Many passengers are now anxious about their return home and the potential for further spread.
Health experts say the virus is a “slow burner,” giving authorities a window to contain it through isolation, contact tracing and monitoring. Strict precautions are in place for those being evacuated and for remaining passengers once they disembark.
The outbreak has drawn international attention, highlighting the challenges of managing infectious diseases on remote cruise voyages. The World Health Organisation and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control are coordinating with national authorities on screening, treatment and repatriation plans.
