Seven British people disembarked from the hantavirus-hit ship mid-way through the cruise alongside a woman who later died, it has emerged.
A total of 29 people left the ship when it docked in the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena, including a Dutch woman who became unwell during onward travel and later died. The woman was accompanying her husband’s body, which was being repatriated after he died on the ship on April 11.
Tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions said in a statement: “On 1 April 2026, 114 guests boarded MV Hondius in Ushuaia, Argentina. Thirty guests disembarked MV Hondius on Saint Helena on 24 April 2026. This number includes the body of the guest who passed away on board MV Hondius on 11 April 2026.”
The 30 people who disembarked were from 12 nations, including seven Britons. A Swiss national who has since been diagnosed with hantavirus was also among those who disembarked the cruise at the British Overseas Terriority, according to the Dutch government.
Three others were evacuated from the ship on Wednesday, of British, Dutch and German nationalities.
In a statement released by Oceanwide Expeditions on Thursday morning, they said the ship left Cape Verde at 7.15pm on Wednesday and is sailing for Granadilla in Tenerife.
The statement said: “This is expected to take 3-4 days. No symptomatic individuals are present on board. Oceanwide Expeditions remains in close and continual discussion with relevant authorities regarding our exact point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and a precise timeline.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Wednesday the Foreign Office is “working urgently” to help get Britons “safely home with proper protection for public health”.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting added: “The outbreak of hantavirus on the MV Hondius will be worrying many.
“The Government are taking this incredibly seriously and are working urgently to support the British nationals involved.”
About 150 people are still aboard the cruise ship under “strict precautionary measures”, Oceanwide Expeditions has said. They include 19 passengers and four crew members listed as British, according to figures released by the operator on Tuesday.
