Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius Cruise Ship Leads to Multiple Deaths and International Health Measures

A hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has resulted in three deaths and several confirmed cases, prompting international health responses and the ship's rerouting to the Canary Islands.

The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, for a voyage through the South Atlantic. The ship, carrying approximately 150 passengers from 23 countries, made stops in remote locations including Antarctica, South Georgia, and Tristan da Cunha.

The first fatality occurred on April 11, when a Dutch passenger died onboard. His body was removed from the vessel on April 24 in Saint Helena, where his wife also disembarked; she later died in a Johannesburg hospital. A British passenger was medically evacuated to Johannesburg in critical but stable condition. A third passenger, a German national, died onboard.

As of May 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported five confirmed cases and eight suspected cases linked to the outbreak. The specific strain identified is the Andes virus, the only hantavirus known to transmit between humans, though such transmission is rare and typically requires close and prolonged contact.

The MV Hondius initially docked in Praia, Cape Verde, on May 3 but was denied permission to remain. The ship then set sail for Tenerife, Canary Islands, after the Spanish Ministry of Health approved its arrival. This decision has sparked disagreement between Spain's central government and Canary Islands regional authorities over the docking plan.

Health officials are conducting contact tracing for passengers who disembarked earlier in the voyage. Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at the UK Health Security Agency, described the effort as "quite a mammoth effort" and stated, "We will continue to do that if other information arises."

Hantaviruses are typically transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents' urine, droppings, or saliva. The Andes virus strain, however, can spread between humans under specific conditions. Symptoms usually begin between one and eight weeks after exposure and can include fever, headache, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues.

The WHO emphasizes that the risk of a widespread epidemic is low, given the rarity of human-to-human transmission of the Andes virus. Preventive measures and close monitoring are being implemented to manage the situation.