Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius Cruise Ship Results in Three Deaths

A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has resulted in three fatalities and several illnesses among passengers and crew. The vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, with approximately 150 individuals on board. The first case emerged on April 6, when a 70-year-old Dutch passenger developed symptoms including fever, headache, and diarrhea. He passed away on April 11 while the ship was in the South Atlantic. His wife, who also exhibited symptoms, disembarked in St. Helena and later died in a South African hospital on April 26. A British passenger became critically ill and was evacuated to South Africa on April 27, where he remains in intensive care. A German woman died on board on May 2. Tests confirmed the presence of the Andes virus, a strain of hantavirus known for rare human-to-human transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating the source of the outbreak and potential transmission routes. The ship is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, with passengers and crew confined to their cabins as a precautionary measure. Spain has agreed to allow the vessel to dock in the Canary Islands for further medical evaluation and disinfection.