Praia, Cabo Verde. The World Health Organization (WHO), in close coordination with the Government of Cape Verde and international partners, supported a rapid and coordinated response to a hantavirus outbreak identified on board a cruise ship that remained off the coast of Praia between 3 and 6 May 2026.

Background

The WHO was notified on 2 May 2026 of an outbreak of severe respiratory illness on board a vessel en route to Cape Verde. By 6 May, three deaths had been identified, one patient was in intensive care in South Africa, and three symptomatic passengers were on board the ship. Reported symptoms included fever, gastrointestinal symptoms and rapid progression to pneumonia and acute respiratory failure.

The ship, carrying approximately 147 passengers and crew members of 23 nationalities, remained anchored off the coast of Praia, without permission to disembark, as a public health precaution adopted by the national authorities.

Coordinated response by the WHO

The response was conducted in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005) and prioritized the protection of the population, the provision of appropriate clinical care to patients, and the reduction of the risk of transmission.

Key actions:

• International coordination between Cape Verde, the WHO and health authorities in the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and the United Kingdom; 

• Conducting joint risk assessments and continuously sharing epidemiological information; 

• Mobilization of specialist technical teams to provide medical and operational support on board;

• Strengthening of laboratory capacity, transport of samples to the IPD Reference Laboratory and provision of personal protective equipment; 

• Support for national authorities in epidemiological surveillance, contact tracing and infection prevention and control measures; 

• Regular communication with the public and partners to ensure evidence-based information and prevent misinformation.

Support to national authorities

The WHO worked closely with the Ministry of Health and other national institutions to strengthen response capacity and ensure the implementation of appropriate public health measures.

Technical teams also supported monitoring of the situation at the port and the preparation of referral units for potential case management.

Risk assessment

Based on the available information, the WHO considered the risk to the population in Cape Verde to be low. 

Medical evacuation of symptomatic patients and continuation of the journey 

On 6 May, the three symptomatic patients were evacuated to the Netherlands in two air ambulances as part of an international operation involving Cape Verde, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the authorities of the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. 

Following this evacuation, the ship continued its journey to its next destination, the Canary Islands. All passengers and crew disembarked on 10 May on the island of Tenerife. It should be noted that during this voyage, medical care was reinforced with the addition of two Dutch doctors and a WHO doctor specializing in epidemiology.

Ongoing commitment

The WHO will continue to support national authorities and international partners in monitoring the situation, coordinating response measures and protecting public health. The Organization reaffirms the importance of international cooperation, early surveillance and transparency in the management of public health events with potential international impact.