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Oceanwide Expeditions continues to monitor the progress of m/v Hondius during her transit to Rotterdam, the Netherlands. A total of 27 individuals remain on board, 25 crew and 2 medical staff, provided by RIVM. None of these individuals is displaying symptoms associated with hantavirus. The two medical staff on board are performing medical monitoring throughout the remainder of the voyage. The vessel is expected to arrive in Rotterdam on Monday, 18 May. Upon arrival, a staggered process of disembarking the remaining crew members will begin. All individuals will follow quarantine procedures outlined by the Dutch authorities and RIVM. Please refer to the RIVM for more information regarding quarantine measures (https://www.rivm.nl/en). Upon arrival, m/v Hondius will undergo a thorough cleaning and disinfection process. The exact details of this are being discussed with the GGD Rotterdam, RIVM, and local authorities. Press update | m/v Hondius: 12 May 2026, 18:00 hrs CET Oceanwide Expeditions continues to monitor the progress of m/v Hondius during her transit to Rotterdam, the Netherlands. A total of 27 individuals remain on board, 25 crew and 2 medical staff provided by the RIVM. None of these individuals is displaying symptoms associated with hantavirus. The two medical staff will continue to monitor throughout the remainder of the voyage. The vessel is expected to arrive in Rotterdam on either Sunday 17 or Monday, 18 May. Upon arrival, all crew will disembark and follow quarantine procedures outlined by the Dutch authorities and RIVM. Please refer to the RIVM for more information regarding quarantine measures (https://www.rivm.nl/en). Following disembarkation, m/v Hondius will undergo a thorough cleaning and disinfection process. The specific protocols are currently being finalised in close consultation with RIVM and GGD Rotterdam. Further information on the arrival of m/v Hondius in Rotterdam, and a media registration process for the Port of Rotterdam will be provided in the coming days. Updates will be shared on this page. Arrangements are currently being coordinated with all relevant parties. Press update | m/v Hondius: 11 May 2026, 21:30 hrs CET Oceanwide Expeditions is pleased to share that the successful disembarkation of guests and a limited number of crew has been completed in Granadilla, the Canary Islands. At 19:00 hrs local time, m/v Hondius departed Granadilla and is now underway towards Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It is expected to take m/v Hondius 6 days to sail to Rotterdam. A provisional arrival date is the evening of Sunday, 17 May 2026. All guests and a limited number of crew members have now been transferred from m/v Hondius to waiting aircraft. The total number of individuals repatriated to their home countries and the Netherlands is 122 (35 crew, 87 guests). Oceanwide Expeditions would like to thank the local authorities in the Canary Islands for their support in facilitating this transfer, led, overseen, and facilitated by the WHO and international governments. This process, as well as earlier stages of this operation, would not have been possible without the support of Dutch authorities and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We would also like to extend our thanks to the people of the Canary Islands for their contributions to this joint humanitarian effort, as well as to the Spanish Government for its swift preparations and significant logistical support. Before the final transfers of guests and crew, this morning, m/v Hondius bunkered in Granadilla, and took on necessary supplies ahead of her transit to Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The vessel has 25 crew members on board. In addition, 2 medical professionals accompany the ship, led by the RIVM, to conduct ongoing medical monitoring during the voyage. This brings the total of individuals currently aboard m/v Hondius to 27. The body of the German guest who passed away on board on 2 May remains with m/v Hondius. This individual is not counted in the total number. Oceanwide Expeditions will coordinate with relevant authorities to ensure repatriation upon arrival in the Netherlands. Current nationalities on board m/v Hondius 
* this number includes 2 medical professionals provided by the RIVM. At this stage, the exact procedures regarding our arrival in Rotterdam remain under discussion. We can confirm that m/v Hondius will undergo sanitation upon arrival. Details regarding vessel cleaning protocols are still being determined in consultation with RIVM, WHO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Rotterdam Port Health Authority, and other relevant bodies. In addition, all remaining crew on board will comply with the medical screening and quarantine conditions in place by the Dutch authorities. Please refer to the RIVM for more information regarding quarantine measures (https://www.rivm.nl/en). Oceanwide Expeditions is in consultation with RIVM and WHO to determine whether any additional safety procedures are necessary for future expeditions. For more information about our current health and safety protocols, please see: https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/page/health-and-safety-protocol As communicated yesterday, all guests' luggage remains on board. We are in direct contact with all guests, also regarding the return of their luggage upon the arrival of m/v Hondius in Rotterdam. Press update | m/v Hondius: 10 May 2026, 12:40 hrs CET Oceanwide Expeditions continues to work with relevant authorities to bring the medical situation on board m/v Hondius to a conclusion. The vessel arrived at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife, on Sunday, 10 May, at 06:24 AM local time. Led by local authorities, the WHO, and select international governments, the disembarkation of all guests and a limited number of crew members is now underway. This is being performed by launch boats and, if necessary, the Zodiac craft of m/v Hondius. Upon disembarkation, all individuals will be transferred immediately to waiting aircraft. The sequence of disembarkation is being coordinated with the arrival of repatriation flights. Oceanwide Expeditions is not involved in the planning and facilitation of guest screening and repatriation. As outlined by the WHO, in partnership with several international organizations and governments, guests will be transported by air to their respective countries, where they will enter quarantine procedures. Respective national authorities determine these procedures. No quarantine of non-Spanish nationals will take place in Spain. For all inquiries relating to shore processes, we refer to the WHO. After all guests and limited crew have disembarked, m/v Hondius will bunker and take on necessary supplies at Santa Cruz, Tenerife. Following this, the vessel will transit to the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands with the remaining crew members aboard. Further details regarding the vessel's arrival in Rotterdam will be provided when available. The expected sailing time to Rotterdam is around 5 days. Press update | m/v Hondius: 9 May 2026, 23:00 hrs CET Oceanwide Expeditions continues to work towards a conclusion to the medical situation on board m/v Hondius. For a detailed update on the medical situation of passengers and crew, both currently aboard m/v Hondius and those receiving medical care in several countries, we kindly refer to the WHO: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON600. A statement from Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, is found below: https://www.who.int/news/item/09-05-2026-message-by-the-who-director-general-to-the-people-of-tenerife-regarding-the-hantavirus-response The vessel is scheduled to arrive at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife, on Sunday, 10 May, at 05:30 AM local time. All guests and a limited number of crew members are expected to begin to disembark from m/v Hondius in managed groups at Granadilla, from around 08:00 AM local time. Once disembarked, they will be transferred immediately to their allocated aircraft. Oceanwide Expeditions is not involved in the planning and facilitation of guest screening and repatriation. As outlined by the WHO, in partnership with a number of international organizations and governments, guests will be transported by air to their respective countries, where they will enter quarantine procedures. These procedures are determined by respective national authorities. No quarantine of non-Spanish nationals will take place in Spain. Disembarkation will take place using either the Zodiac craft of m/v Hondius, or launch boats, with a maximum of 5 passengers per Zodiac or 10 passengers per launch boat in accordance with defined health protocols. The sequence of disembarkation will be coordinated with arriving repatriation flights. Luggage of all guests will remain on board m/v Hondius. Oceanwide Expeditions is in contact with all guests regarding the process for returning all luggage safely to them. After the guest and limited crew have disembarked, m/v Hondius will bunker and take on necessary supplies at Santa Cruz, Tenerife. Following this, the vessel will transit to the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands with the remaining crew members aboard. Further details regarding the vessel's arrival in Rotterdam will be provided when available. The expected sailing time to Rotterdam is around 5 days. For all inquiries relating to shore processes, we refer to the WHO. We would like to issue a confirmation of the following list of nationalities as being on board m/v Hondius in April. Of the 114 guests that departed Ushuaia, Argentina with m/v Hondius on April 1, there were 3 guests traveling having already traveled with m/v Hondius from 20 March - 31 March (Ushuaia-Antarctica-Ushuaia): 1 Greek national and 2 Dutch nationals. All three individuals have not developed symptoms. Press update | m/v Hondius: 9 May 2026, 13:30 hrs CET Oceanwide Expeditions continues to work towards a conclusion to the medical situation on board m/v Hondius. The three individuals transferred by medicalized aircraft from m/v Hondius to the Netherlands on 6 May remain under the care and screening of medical professionals. More information is available via the WHO and other responsible authorities. We refer to the statement and press conference issued by the WHO on 7 May: https://www.who.int/news/item/07-05-2026-who-s-response-to-hantavirus-cases-linked-to-a-cruise-ship Oceanwide Expeditions is thankful that authorities and experts continue to further investigate the possible source of this hantavirus cluster. We are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. We also thank all involved parties regarding the successful transfer by medicalized aircraft of three individuals on 6 May. No symptomatic individuals are present on board m/v Hondius. Guests and crew continue to follow the guidance of onboard medical personnel, and medical monitoring continues. This is being led by the four medical personnel who boarded the vessel prior to its departure from Cape Verde on 6 May. The atmosphere on board continues to remain positive. Following the directive of relevant authorities, provisionally, m/v Hondius remains estimated to arrive at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife, in the early hours of Sunday, 10 May. Preparations regarding our point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and the onward travel plans for all guests and crew are being led by organizations from a number of countries, including the WHO, RIVM, and Dutch authorities, in close cooperation with Spanish government authorities. All guests and a limited number of crew members of m/v Hondius are expected to disembark at Granadilla. After disembarkation, arrangements are being made, guided by the WHO, RIVM, and Dutch authorities, for m/v Hondius to transit to the Netherlands. We refer all inquiries regarding the process for guests departing the vessel and potential screening procedures to the WHO and involved parties, including consular representatives of onboard nationalities. Oceanwide Expeditions is not involved in the planning and facilitation of guest screening and repatriation. There is one revision to our passenger nationality list published 8 May 19:00 hrs CET: one Congolese individual was erroneously stated as being a Dutch national. This individual is one of the medical staff who embarked the vessel on 6 May. For administrative purposes, all medical staff are listed as passengers, not as crew. Press update | m/v Hondius: 8 May 2026, 19:00 hrs CET Oceanwide Expeditions continues to respond to an ongoing medical situation aboard m/v Hondius. The three individuals transferred by medicalized aircraft from m/v Hondius to the Netherlands on 6 May remain under the care and screening of medical professionals. No symptomatic individuals are present on board. The situation on board m/v Hondius remains calm, and guests and crew continue to follow procedures, now under the guidance of the medical team. More information is available via the WHO and other responsible authorities. Following the directive of relevant authorities, provisionally, m/v Hondius is estimated to arrive at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife, in the early hours of Sunday 10 May. This is subject to change. Preparations regarding our point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and the onward travel plans for all guests and affected crew are being led by organizations from a number of countries, including the WHO, RIVM, and Dutch authorities, in close cooperation with Spanish government authorities. Following the disembarkation or evacuation of guests aboard m/v Hondius, Oceanwide Expeditions is not involved in planning and facilitating medical testing, screening, and onward journeys. Oceanwide Expeditions would like to provide more details on the itinerary involved, and the disembarkation of guests on Saint Helena on 24 April. The involved itinerary of m/v Hondius is the Atlantic Odyssey voyage, which departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April, and was scheduled to end in Praia, Cape Verde, on 4 May. This can be booked in different ways. Guests can choose to travel with the vessel from Ushuaia, and disembark in Saint Helena. Alternatively, they can remain with the vessel and continue to Cape Verde. 
(*) Disembarkation on 24 April of 32 guests, adjusted from 30 we communicated earlier, and including the Dutch national who passed away on 11 April, and the Dutch national who accompanied the body and later passed away during their transit home on 26 April. (**) 1 symptomatic British national, 1 asymptomatic American national (partner of patient). (***) On 2 May, a guest passed away on board. This individual is not included in the final current onboard numbers. (****) On 6 May, three individuals (1 Dutch and 1 German passenger, 1 British crew) were transferred by medicalized aircraft from m/v Hondius to the Netherlands. Two listed as guests and one listed as crew. On the same day, four medical staff (marked as guests, 1 Italian, 3 Dutch) embarked the vessel. 
Atlantic Odyssey itinerary map. Image by Oceanwide Expeditions 
* Does not include the individual who passed away on 2 May. The above guest number includes four medical staff. Close cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Press update | m/v Hondius: 7 May 2026, 17:15 hrs CET Oceanwide Expeditions continues to manage a medical situation onboard m/v Hondius. The three individuals medically transferred from m/v Hondius yesterday remain in the care of medical professionals. The vessel remains underway and is heading to the Canary Islands, specifically the port of Granadilla (Tenerife). No symptomatic individuals are present on board. Medical personnel, under the leadership and guidance of the RIVM, WHO, and the Dutch Government, remain aboard m/v Hondius and lead medical monitoring during the transit to the Canary Islands. Provisionally, m/v Hondius is estimated to arrive at the port of Grandilla, Tenerife in the early hours of Sunday 10 May. This is subject to change. 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. Following the disembarkation or evacuation of guests aboard m/v Hondius, Oceanwide Expeditions is not involved in medical testing, screening and onward journeys. In addition to the list of passenger nationalities who disembarked the vessel in Saint Helena on 24 April provided earlier today, we wish to provide the following information: • On 1 April 2026, 114 guests were aboard m/v Hondius upon departure from Ushuaia, Argentina. • On 15 April, 6 additional guests joined m/v Hondius at Tristan da Cunha, located between Ushuaia, Argentina, and Saint Helena. This brought the total number of onboard guests to 120. At this time, one guest was deceased and is included in this figure. • 4 of these new individuals who joined m/v Hondius at Tristan da Cunha were included in the original manifest of the vessel. They are of British nationality. 2 were unplanned additions. At this time, their nationality is believed to be Chilean. • A discrepancy has been identified in the reported numbers of guests departing Ushuaia and disembarking in Saint Helena on 24 April. A total of 120 guests were on board m/v Hondius upon arrival in Saint Helena. Of these, 30 disembarked on 24 April 2026. This figure includes the individual who passed away on board m/v Hondius on 11 April. Close cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pictures of m/v Hondius: 
Image by Oceanwide Expeditions 
Image by Oceanwide Expeditions 
Image by Oceanwide Expeditions 
Images by Oceanwide Expeditions 
Images by Oceanwide Expeditions 
Images by Oceanwide Expeditions Statement regarding circulating video of 12 April 2026 onboard announcement - m/v Hondius 7 May 2026, 13:30 hrs CET Oceanwide Expeditions is aware of a video filmed on 12 April 2026 and showing the onboard announcement to guests of the death of an individual on board on 11 April 2026. The safety and well-being of all passengers and crew is our utmost priority. At the time of the first death on 11 April, the cause of death was unknown and there was no evidence of a virus or contagion on board m/v Hondius. This was established by the medical doctor on board and communicated in person by the captain to passengers and crew on 12 April. The case was believed to be isolated following medical review. Proper procedure was followed in informing all guests and crew aboard m/v Hondius. Health and safety, and maritime standards regarding the proper management and reporting of a death at sea, were strictly followed. Following the medevac of an unwell guest on 27 April, the ship's medical team requested testing to determine whether any common pathogens were present. Oceanwide Expeditions initiated its SHIELD response plan on this date. Hantavirus was confirmed on 4 May to be present in the individual transferred by medevac from m/v Hondius on 27 April and currently being treated in a South African hospital. This was the first confirmed case. In response, Oceanwide Expeditions immediately upgraded its response protocol, requesting guests follow isolation measures, hygiene protocols, and expand medical monitoring. Three additional medical professionals have since embarked the vessel, bringing the total number to four medical professionals on board. Press update | m/v Hondius: 7 May 2026, 11:30 hrs CET Oceanwide Expeditions continues to manage an ongoing medical situation on board m/v Hondius. The second of two medicalized aircraft, carrying one of the three individuals transferred from m/v Hondius yesterday (6 May), has landed in the Netherlands. Specialist medical and screening teams have received the individual on board. All three individuals, two symptomatic and one asymptomatic, are now in the care of medical professionals. We continue to monitor the progress of m/v Hondius, which departed Cape Verde at 19:15 CET yesterday (6 May) and is sailing for the Canary Islands, specifically the port of Granadilla (Tenerife). 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. Oceanwide Expeditions can confirm that on 1 April 2026, 114 guests boarded m/v Hondius in Ushuaia, Argentina. 30 guests disembarked m/v Hondius on Saint Helena on 24 April 2026. This number includes the body of the guest who passed away on board m/v Hondius on 11 April 2026. The first confirmed case of hantavirus was not reported until 4 May 2026. These disembarked guests have all been contacted by Oceanwide Expeditions. We are working to establish details of all passengers and crew who embarked and disembarked on various stops of m/v Hondius since March 20. Nationalities of 30 guests who DISEMBARKED at ST HELENA 24 April 2026 
Close cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Press update | m/v Hondius: 6 May 2026, 22:45 hrs CET Oceanwide Expeditions continues to manage an ongoing medical situation on board m/v Hondius. Oceanwide Expeditions can confirm that the first of two medicalized aircraft, carrying two of the three individuals transferred from m/v Hondius earlier today has landed in the Netherlands. The two individuals on board have been received by specialist medical and screening teams. The second medicalized aircraft carrying the third individual is currently experiencing a delay. The individual on board this aircraft remains in a stable condition. We will provide an update on the arrival of this second aircraft as soon as possible. Oceanwide Expeditions can confirm that m/v Hondius departed Cape Verde at 19:15 CET and is now heading north. Under the current plan, m/v Hondius will sail for the Canary Islands. This is expected to take 3-4 days. Three additional medical professionals have embarked m/v Hondius to provide optimal medical care during the crossing. 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. We are unable to confirm the details of onward travel for guests at this stage. This is dependent on medical advice and the outcome of stringent screening procedures. Close cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Press update | m/v Hondius: 6 May 2026, 14:45 hrs CET We can confirm that the three individuals previously indicated as awaiting medical transfer have been successfully disembarked from m/v Hondius and are now en route via medicalized aircraft to locations able to provide specialized care and appropriate medical screening. Two of the individuals remain in a serious condition. The third, while currently asymptomatic, was closely associated with the individual who passed away on board on 2 May 2026. The two symptomatic individuals have not tested positive for hantavirus at this time. In partnership with the RIVM (Dutch Institute for Public Health and Environment), Oceanwide Expeditions is expanding medical care on board with two infectious disease physicians, arriving today by plane from the Netherlands. This ensures that optimal medical care can be provided if necessary, during the next stage of this evolving situation. At this stage, the planned onward destination for m/v Hondius is the Canary Islands. Oceanwide Expeditions remains in close and continual discussion with relevant authorities regarding the exact point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and a precise timeline. We are unable to confirm the details of onward travel for guests at this stage. This is dependent on medical advice and the outcome of stringent screening procedures. Close cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has confirmed that a passenger who traveled on the first leg of the voyage (Ushuaia to St Helena, 24 April 2026) has tested positive for hantavirus and is currently being treated at the University Hospital Zurich. His wife, who accompanied him, has not shown symptoms but is self-isolating as a precaution. Oceanwide Expeditions is in contact with the relevant authorities regarding this development. All guests present on this voyage have been contacted by Oceanwide Expeditions. This brings the total number of confirmed hantavirus cases associated with this voyage to three: • On 26 April, after their planned disembarkation, a guest passed away during their transit home. A variant of hantavirus has been identified in this patient. • On 27 April, a passenger became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa. This person is currently being treated in the intensive care unit in Johannesburg and is in a critical but stable condition. This passenger is of British nationality. A variant of hantavirus has been identified in this patient. • On 6 May, FOPH confirmed that a passenger who travelled on the first leg of the voyage has tested positive for hantavirus and is currently being treated at the University Hospital Zurich. Press Update: 6 May 2026, 11:00 hrs CET Oceanwide Expeditions continues to respond to an ongoing medical situation aboard m/v Hondius. The vessel remains anchored offshore of Cape Verde. The planned transfer of three individuals from the vessel to specialized aircraft has not yet taken place. This is scheduled to occur this morning, Cape Verde local time. Once aboard the aircraft, these individuals, two of whom present acute symptoms, will be transferred to medical and screening facilities. The third individual is closely associated with the guest who passed away on board m/v Hondius on 2 May 2026. Exact details will be shared when this planned transfer has taken place. Following the advice of the RIVM (Dutch Institute for Public Health and Environment), two infectious disease physicians, currently en route from the Netherlands, will embark m/v Hondius and remain with the vessel after its anticipated departure from Cape Verde, provided the three individuals are successfully transferred. An additional medical professional is already on board m/v Hondius. At this stage, the planned destination for m/v Hondius following the successful medical transfer is the Canary Islands. 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. We are unable to confirm the details of onward travel for guests at this stage. This is dependent on medical advice and the outcome of stringent screening procedures. Close cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Onboard Update: m/v Hondius | 5 May 2026 19:15 hrs CET In addition to our update 5 May 2026, 17:00 CET we can confirm the following: • The medical evacuation of two individuals currently requiring urgent medical care, and the individual associated with the guest who passed away on 2 May, will occur using two specialized aircraft that are en route to Cape Verde. From here, the patients are to be medically evacuated to the Netherlands. At this stage, we do not have an exact timeline. • Once these three individuals have been safely transferred from the vessel and are in transit to the Netherlands, the m/v Hondius will begin repositioning. Our plan is to proceed to the Canary Islands, either Gran Canaria or Tenerife, which will take 3 days of sailing. Discussions are ongoing with relevant authorities. This will be shared when concrete plans are available. To ensure that information shared externally remains accurate and consistent, Oceanwide Expeditions is currently communicating through written updates only. Press update: updated timeline of the medical situation on board m/v Hondius | 5 May 2026, 17:00 CET In addition to previous communications regarding the background and timeline of the medical situation on board m/v Hondius, the latest status is as follows: • The vessel remains off the coast of Cape Verde. • Discussions with the relevant authorities regarding next steps for m/v Hondius, including possible disembarkation and routing, are ongoing. • Two crew members on board continue to require urgent medical care. • Investigations into the cause of the illness and any possible connection between cases are ongoing. • At this stage, no new symptomatic individuals on board have been identified beyond those previously reported. • Preparations for the medical evacuation of individuals currently requiring urgent medical care are underway in close coordination with the relevant authorities. As for the possible source of the hantavirus, we refer to comments by the director of the WHO, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove & UN Spokespersons stating that, although hantavirus is usually transmitted to humans via rodents (droppings/urine), the WHO is investigating possible human-to-human transmission on the ship. According to Van Kerkhove, it is suspected that the first infected person most probably contracted the virus before boarding. To ensure that information shared externally remains accurate and consistent, Oceanwide Expeditions is currently communicating through written updates only. Press update: Updated timeline of the medical situation on board m/v Hondius 4 May 2026, 23:30 CET Oceanwide Expeditions continues to deal with a serious medical situation on board m/v Hondius, which remains at anchor off the coast of Cape Verde. Two crew members on board continue to present acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe. Both require urgent medical care. These crew members are of British and Dutch nationality. At this time, no other persons with symptoms have been identified. Oceanwide Expeditions can confirm, via the WHO, that a variant of hantavirus has been identified as being present in the female Dutch national who passed away on 27 April 2026 after disembarkation in Saint Helena. This brings the total number of confirmed hantavirus cases to two. The atmosphere on board m/v Hondius remains calm, with passengers generally composed. Oceanwide Expeditions is working to provide clarity and reassurance to guests and expedite their disembarkation and medical screening. Oceanwide Expeditions team members are working diligently to support all individuals on board and uphold stringent health and safety procedures as part of Oceanwide Expeditions' SHIELD response plan. This is currently at level 3, the highest response level, and includes isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring. Dutch authorities are actively preparing a medical evacuation of the two symptomatic individuals along with the individual associated with the guest that passed away on 2 May. This will involve two specialized aircraft equipped with the necessary medical equipment and staffed by trained medical crews. This is not confirmed and is subject to change. An accurate timeline of this complex operation is currently unknown and will be shared in a future press update. The vessel remains off the coast of Cape Verde. There are 149 people on board, representing 23 different nationalities. The disembarkation of passengers, medical evacuation and medical screening require permission from, and coordination with, the local health authorities. Local health authorities have visited the vessel and assessed the situation. The medical transfer of the two ill persons on board has not yet taken place. Close cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We can confirm that guests will not be disembarking in Cape Verde, except for the three individuals who are planned to be medically evacuated. At this stage, a definitive disembarkation point for the remaining guests on board m/v Hondius has not been finalized. Sailing on to Las Palmas or Tenerife is being considered, where further medical screening and handling could take place, organized and supervised by the WHO and Dutch health services. This is yet to be confirmed. When concrete information regarding the disembarkation and medical screening procedures for all remaining guests on board m/v Hondius is available, it will be shared in a future press update. An updated timeline of the medical situation on board m/v Hondius is as follows: • On 11 April, a passenger died on board. The cause of death could not be determined on board. On 24 April, this passenger was disembarked on St Helena, with his wife accompanying the repatriation. • On 27 April, Oceanwide Expeditions was informed that the wife had become unwell during the return journey and had later died. Both passengers were Dutch nationals. On 4 May 2026, a variant of hantavirus was identified as being present in this individual. • On 27 April, another passenger became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa. This person is currently being treated in the intensive care unit in Johannesburg and is in a critical but stable condition. This passenger is of British nationality. A variant of hantavirus has been identified in this patient. • On 2 May, another passenger on board died. The cause has not yet been established. This passenger was of German nationality. Oceanwide Expeditions remains in close contact with those directly involved and their families, and is providing support where possible. We understand the considerable interest and concern and will share new information as soon as it has been verified. Press update: Timeline of the medical situation on board the m/v Hondius 4 May 2026, 13:30 PM CET Oceanwide Expeditions is still dealing with a serious medical situation on board the m/v Hondius, which is currently off the coast of Cape Verde. A brief timeline of the medical situation on board the m/v Hondius is as follows: On 11 April, a passenger died on board. The cause of death could not be determined on board. On 24 April, this passenger was disembarked on St Helena, with his wife accompanying the repatriation. On 27 April, Oceanwide Expeditions was informed that the wife had become unwell during the return journey and had later died. Both passengers were Dutch nationals. At this time, it has not been confirmed that these two deaths are connected to the current medical situation on board. On 27 April, another passenger became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa. This person is currently being treated in the intensive care unit in Johannesburg and is in a critical but stable condition. This passenger is of British nationality. A variant of hantavirus has been identified in this patient. On 2 May, another passenger on board died. The cause has not yet been established. This passenger was of German nationality. In addition, there are currently two crew members on board with acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe. Both require urgent medical care. These crew members are of British and Dutch nationality. At this time, no other persons with symptoms have been identified. Hantavirus has not currently been confirmed in the two persons still on board who require medical care. Nor has it been established that the virus is connected to the three deaths associated with this voyage. The exact cause and any possible connection are being investigated. Therefore, the only confirmed case of hantavirus is the passenger who was medically evacuated and is now being treated in Johannesburg. The vessel remains off the coast of Cape Verde. There are 149 people on board, representing 23 different nationalities. The disembarkation of passengers, medical evacuation and medical screening require permission from, and coordination with, the local health authorities. Local health authorities have visited the vessel and assessed the situation. The medical transfer of the two ill persons on board has not yet taken place. Oceanwide Expeditions is working closely with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the same time, preparations are being made for possible medical repatriation and next steps. The option of sailing on to Las Palmas or Tenerife are being considered to be the gateway for disembarkation, where further medical screening and handling could take place. Strict precautionary measures are in process on board, including isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring. All passengers have been informed and are being supported. Oceanwide Expeditions is in close contact with those directly involved and their families, and is providing support where possible. We understand the considerable interest and concern and will share new information as soon as it has been verified. The nationalities of passengers and crew are as follows: 
Operational Update: Medical Situation Aboard m/v Hondius 3 May 2026 Oceanwide Expeditions is currently managing a serious medical situation on board the vessel m/v Hondius, located off the coast of Cape Verde. During this voyage, three passengers have passed away. In addition, one passenger is currently being treated in intensive care in Johannesburg, and two crew members on board require urgent medical care. As of 23:00 hrs CET on 3 May 2026, no authorization from Cape Verdean authorities has been given to disembark guests requiring medical care or to support with medical screening. Local health authorities have visited the vessel to assess the condition of the two symptomatic individuals. They are yet to make a decision regarding the transfer of these individuals into medical care in Cape Verde. The priority of Oceanwide Expeditions is to ensure that the two symptomatic individuals on board receive adequate and expedited medical care. Dutch authorities have agreed to lead a joint effort in organizing the repatriation of the two symptomatic individuals on board m/v Hondius from Cape Verde to the Netherlands. The body of the deceased individual is also planned to be included in this repatriation, along with a guest closely associated with the deceased. This individual is not symptomatic. This repatriation depends on many factors, including the authorization and support of local Cape Verdean health authorities for the transfer of individuals requiring medical attention from m/v Hondius. We are in close contact with those directly affected and their families and are providing support where possible. The health and safety of all passengers and crew is our highest priority. Oceanwide Expeditions is working closely with local and international authorities, including WHO, RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Disembarkation and medical screening of all guests require coordination with local health authorities, and we are in close consultation with them. We are currently establishing the full facts and working on appropriate medical care, screening, and next steps. We will provide a further update as soon as more information becomes available. Oceanwide Expeditions - press release 
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