American Doctor Assumes Medical Leadership Amid Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius

An outbreak of hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has resulted in three fatalities and several confirmed cases among passengers and crew. The ship's doctor was among those infected, prompting Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, an American oncologist from Bend, Oregon, to assume medical leadership during the crisis.

The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, with approximately 150 passengers and crew. The first death occurred on April 11, when a 70-year-old Dutch passenger died onboard. His wife, who also contracted the virus, died on April 26 in a South African hospital. A third passenger, a German woman, died on May 2. The ship's doctor and a guide tested positive and are currently in isolation in the Netherlands. A British man is hospitalized in South Africa, and a Swiss man is receiving treatment in Switzerland. As of May 9, none of the 17 American passengers onboard have tested positive for the virus.

Dr. Kornfeld, who was on the cruise for bird watching, stepped in to provide medical care after the ship's doctor fell ill. He coordinated with international health experts, including representatives from the World Health Organization, to manage the outbreak. The ship made stops at various locations, including Saint Helena and Cape Verde, for emergency evacuations and medical assistance. The MV Hondius is expected to arrive at the Canary Islands on May 10, where passengers will disembark and be flown back to their home countries.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified the outbreak as a "level 3" emergency response. The National Quarantine Unit in Omaha, Nebraska, is prepared to evaluate and monitor the returning American passengers. Dr. Kornfeld expressed confidence in the medical care available upon return, stating he feels a sense of relief knowing he will soon have access to very good medical care.