Published: May 11, 2026
ABUJA, Nigeria — The West African Health Organization (WAHO) and the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) are closely monitoring a deadly outbreak of hantavirus disease linked to a Dutch-flagged cruise ship that recently sailed off the coast of Cabo Verde, raising international public health concerns over a rare but potentially fatal viral infection.
According to a briefing note issued by WAHO on May 9, 2026, the outbreak has so far resulted in eight identified cases, six confirmed and two probable, including three deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 37.5 percent.
The outbreak was first reported to the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control on May 2 by Cabo Verde’s National Institute of Public Health after several passengers aboard the cruise ship developed severe respiratory symptoms. At the time of notification, two passengers had already died while another critically ill passenger had been airlifted to South Africa for emergency medical treatment.
Health authorities later confirmed that the critically ill patient tested positive for hantavirus through a PCR test conducted on May 3, 2026. Further laboratory analysis identified the virus strain as the Andes virus (ANDV), a rare and highly dangerous form of hantavirus mainly found in South America.
WAHO disclosed that the cruise ship carried 147 passengers and crew members from 23 different nationalities, though no ECOWAS nationals were reported on board. Symptoms among infected passengers reportedly began between April 6 and April 28, 2026.
The illness reportedly progressed rapidly among victims, beginning with fever and gastrointestinal symptoms before advancing to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock. Health experts say such severe complications are characteristic of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, a condition associated with Andes virus infections.
The four surviving confirmed cases are currently receiving treatment in hospitals across South Africa, the Netherlands and Switzerland, while another probable case remains isolated on the remote British territory of Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic.
Initial laboratory confirmation of the outbreak came from South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases before additional verification was conducted by the Institut Pasteur de Dakar. Authorities say more scientific investigations, including genomic sequencing, serology and metagenomic testing, are ongoing to better understand the outbreak and its transmission dynamics.
Orthohantaviruses, research shows, are zoonotic viruses transmitted primarily through exposure to infected rodents and their bodily fluids, especially through inhalation of contaminated particles from urine, saliva or feces. Several hantavirus species are known to infect humans globally, including the Andes and Sin Nombre viruses in the Americas and the Puumala and Dobrava viruses in Europe.
While most hantavirus transmission occurs from rodents to humans, health experts warn that Andes virus is unusual because limited human-to-human transmission has previously been documented, particularly during prolonged close contact in community settings.
Medical experts note that the incubation period for Andes virus infection generally averages about two weeks but may range from one to eight weeks. Common early symptoms include headaches, dizziness, fever, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain before patients develop severe respiratory distress and dangerously low blood pressure.
WAHO warned that infections involving the Andes virus can reach fatality rates of up to 50 percent in some cases across the Americas. The organization also stressed that there is currently no approved vaccine or licensed antiviral treatment for hantavirus disease, although early detection and intensive supportive medical care significantly improve survival chances.
The World Health Organization has classified the current public health risk associated with the outbreak as “moderate” for passengers and crew members aboard the ship but “low” at the global level.
Authorities disclosed that the cruise ship departed Cabo Verde waters on May 6 and is heading toward the Canary Islands in Spain, where passengers are expected to disembark. Despite concerns surrounding the outbreak, ECOWAS officials stated that the risk of transmission within West Africa remains low because no citizens from ECOWAS member states were among those on board and no suspected or confirmed cases have been transferred into the region.
Nevertheless, the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control has urged health authorities across member states to remain vigilant and strengthen preparedness measures against potential imported cases. WAHO specifically called on member states to intensify training for health workers in case detection, patient management, infection prevention and isolation procedures related to Orthohantavirus infections. The agency also emphasized the need to reinforce disease surveillance systems, especially at ports of entry and border crossings.
In addition, regional authorities are encouraging countries to improve laboratory testing and diagnostic capabilities to ensure rapid identification and reporting of suspected infections. WAHO further stressed the importance of coordinated risk communication strategies aimed at providing timely, accurate and evidence-based public information to prevent panic and misinformation.
Public health experts say the outbreak highlights the increasing vulnerability of global travel networks to infectious disease spread, particularly aboard cruise ships where passengers often remain in close proximity for extended periods. The incident also revives memories of previous disease outbreaks linked to maritime travel, including COVID-19 and norovirus outbreaks that affected international cruise operations in recent years. WAHO stated that it will continue working with international health agencies and national governments to monitor the evolving epidemiological situation and provide regular updates as investigations continue.
Discussion about this post