Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius Cruise Ship Results in Three Deaths

An outbreak of hantavirus aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in three fatalities and five confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The ship, which departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde.

The deceased include a Dutch couple and a German national. Among the confirmed cases, two patients were evacuated to the Netherlands for medical treatment, while a third, who has no symptoms but was closely associated with a deceased passenger, is undergoing testing. The WHO has identified the virus strain as the Andes virus, known for its rare human-to-human transmission capability.

Health authorities in the United States are monitoring travelers from California, Georgia, and Arizona who were aboard the MV Hondius. None have shown symptoms, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assesses the risk to the American public as extremely low.

Efforts are underway to trace passengers who disembarked before the outbreak was reported. Approximately 40 passengers left the ship in St. Helena, with their current whereabouts being investigated. The MV Hondius has been cleared to continue its voyage and is en route to Spain's Canary Islands, despite initial opposition from local officials.

Hantavirus is typically transmitted from rodents to humans through feces, saliva, or urine, leading to severe respiratory illness that can be fatal. Human-to-human transmission is rare but has been documented with the Andes strain.