Hantavirus in Cape Verde: 3 deaths out of 8 cases, ECOWAS assesses risk as low

On May 8, 2026, the ECOWAS Regional Center for Disease Surveillance and Control reported an outbreak of hantavirus on a Dutch cruise ship. A total of 8 cases have been recorded, including 6 confirmed and 3 deaths. Authorities assess the risk of transmission within ECOWAS as low, as no regional nationals were on board the ship, which left Cape Verde's waters on May 6 heading to the Canary Islands.