<p>A rare strain of hantavirus that has a 40% mortality rate and spreads through human-to-human contact could be responsible for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mystery-illness-eyed-in-deaths-aboard-luxury-cruise">three deaths</a> on board a luxury cruise ship, health officials believe.</p>
<p>The outbreak on the MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, has resulted in at least seven other infections and has trapped other passengers on the ship as government and health officials try to figure out how to get sick passengers off the cruise ship. Most hantavirus strains only spread to humans from rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, but one rare and extremely dangerous strain can spread from human-to-human and “can’t be ruled out,” the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.</p>
<p>“We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that is happening among the really close contacts,” World Health Organization official Maria Van Kerkhove <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/05/world-news/cruise-ship-infected-with-terrifying-hantavirus-strain-that-has-40-mortality-rate-who-believes-heres-what-happens-next/">said</a>.</p>
<p>“We do know that some of the cases had very close contact with each other and certainly human-to-human transmission can’t be ruled out,” Van Kerkhove <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/05/world/africa/cruise-ship-hantavirus-cape-verde-hondius.html">added</a>.</p>
<p>The deadly strain suspected of spreading on the cruise ship is known as the &#8220;Andes virus&#8221; and is most commonly found in the Andes Mountains of Argentina and Chile. Van Kerkhove assured the media that the risk posed to the public from the hantavirus outbreak on the ship &#8220;is low.&#8221;</p>
<p>The cruise ship, along with its nearly 150 passengers and crew members, is being held off Cape Verde, an archipelago off the coast of West Africa. Van Kerkhove said on Tuesday that the ship would soon move around 1,000 miles northeast to the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory. The Spanish government said it was still trying to figure out &#8220;which port of call is most appropriate&#8221; for the ship to dock.</p>
<p>Health officials in hazmat suits checked out the cruise ship on Monday, and the World Health Organization said that no rodents were found on board, giving more credence to the human-to-human transmission theory. Medical teams also went aboard the ship to look into suspected infections of two crew members, The New York Post reported.</p>
<p>Jake Rosmarin, an American travel blogger who&#8217;s stuck on the ship, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/health/trapped-cruise-ship-passenger-shares-update-cleanliness-ship-amid-deadly-hantavirus-outbreak">said</a> in a video recording on Tuesday that all the healthy passengers &#8220;are doing well&#8221; and are in &#8220;good spirits.&#8221; He said that healthy passengers &#8220;have the option to have meals delivered directly to their cabins,&#8221; but &#8220;gathering in indoor common areas such as the lounge is currently restricted.&#8221;</p>
<p>Two of the people who died after contracting hantavirus were a Dutch couple who had been traveling in South America before boarding the MV Hondius, which left from Argentina on March 20 for a weeks-long voyage. The World Health Organization believes the couple contracted the disease before boarding the ship.</p>
<p>The first person, a 70-year-old Dutch man, died on board the ship on April 11. His wife, a 69-year-old woman, died 15 days later in South Africa while she was attempting to fly home to the Netherlands, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/05/world/africa/cruise-ship-hantavirus-cape-verde-hondius.html">reported</a>. A German national died on the ship on Saturday.</p>
<p>Hantavirus typically begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches, before potentially progressing to breathing problems and possible lung or heart failure.</p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Deadly Rare Virus Prime Suspect In Cruise Ship Nightmare

CONTINUE READING

Taxpayer-Funded Exorcisms? The Medicaid Debate Just Got Wild

WATCH: Footage Shows Engine Fly Off UPS Plane Before Crash Killed 15

Violent Teen Takeover Erupts Inside Chipotle As Officials Promise Parents Won’t Escape Blame

Secret Service Agent, Chinese Security Get Into Standoff During Trump Visit

Drinking Water For Thousands Threatened After Disturbing Discovery Underwater

Police ID Man Hit By Frontier Jet, Reveal Horrifying Final Moments

News

Disease

World Health Organization

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Menu

— News —

Deadly Rare Virus Prime Suspect In Cruise Ship Nightmare