Three people, two of them seriously ill, were evacuated on Wednesday (May 5) from a luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak and marooned for days off the coast of Cape Verde, the World Health Organisation said.

The MV Hondius, which has nearly 150 people on board, is expected to head next to Spain's Canary Islands, ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions said. Three people have so far died in the outbreak.

South Africa confirmed that it had identified among the victims the Andean strain of the virus that can - in rare cases - spread among humans. Since the start of the outbreak, the WHO has said the risk to the wider public is low, and it stressed that this continued to be the case.

Cape Verde had been intended as the ship's final destination, but the archipelago nation off West Africa has not allowed the passengers to come ashore because of the outbreak.

One unnamed Praia resident agreed with the government’s decision, saying “I don't think it's a good decision for the government to let the ship dock here, because we don't have sufficient health security to combat even dengue fever in Cape Verde, let alone an unknown disease that even international countries aren't prepared for.”

But, another Praia resident expressed his sympathies with the passengers on board. "They cannot be left adrift without hope of life.''

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PRAIA, CAPE VERDE (MAY 5, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

2. MV HONDIUS CRUISE SHIP OFF PRAIA HARBOUR

3. EXTERIOR OF PRAIA HARBOUR WITH SIGN READING: (Portuguese): PRAIA HARBOUR

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Cape Verdean Portuguese Creole) UNIDENTIFIED PRAIA RESIDENT, SAYING:

''In my opinion, I think it's a good decision for the government to not let the ship dock here because we don't have sufficient health security to combat even dengue fever in Cape Verde, let alone an unknown disease that even international countries aren't prepared for. Imagine Cape Verde, which is still sending biopsies to Portugal or Senegal, to make a decision.''

5. DRONE SHOT OF PRAIA CITY (MUTE)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) UNIDENTIFIED PRAIA RESIDENT, SAYING:

''I think docking should be allowed, provided that the competent authorities take all measures to control the situation. Furthermore, this disease is not transmitted from person to person, I think something went wrong inside the boat, but we will not leave people adrift waiting to die. People can leave the boat as long as the authorities take the necessary precautions so that they can receive treatment. They cannot be left adrift without hope of life.''

7. VARIOUS STREET SCENE PEOPLE WALKING

8. DRONE SHOT OF PRAIA CITY (MUTE)