WHO has reported eight hantavirus cases, including three deaths, but assessed the public health risk as low.

The WHO has reported eight hantavirus cases, including three deaths, but assessed the public health risk as low. Countries are now tracking passengers who disembarked from the MV Hondius cruise to prevent further spread after three passengers died from the virus.

Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans, according to WHO. In rare cases, this virus can be transmitted from person-to-person.

 Outbreak: MV Hondius Cruise Ship

First ship-borne hantavirus outbreak ever recorded, linked to Dutch expedition cruise ship _MV Hondius_.

8 total cases as of May 8: 6 confirmed, 2 probable. 3 deaths,4 hospitalized, 1 recovered.

Strain: Andes virus – the only hantavirus type that can spread person-to-person through close, prolonged contact.

 Timeline & Spread

April 1: Ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina with 147 passengers/crew. Route: South America → Antarctica → South Georgia → Tristan da Cunha → St Helena → Cape Verde.

April 6: First symptoms in Dutch passenger. April 11: First death – Dutch man from sudden respiratory distress.

Deaths: Dutch couple + 1 German national. German woman’s body still on board.

Passenger likely infected before boarding, possibly in Argentina/Chile. Argentina now testing rodents in Ushuaia.

 Latest Cases – May 2026 Spain: 32-year-old woman in Alicante with mild respiratory symptoms. She sat 2 rows behind infected Dutch woman on a flight. Test results pending. British man with suspected symptoms. Island is world’s remotest inhabited place, 1,500 miles from St Helena.

Switzerland, Netherlands, South Africa: Confirmed cases hospitalized. Ship doctor & guide among infected.

Global Response .WHO & CDC Actions

 WHO: “Public health risk is low” but “moderate risk to passengers/crew”. Deploying expert to ship. Shipped 2,500 diagnostic kits to 5 countries.

 CDC: Classified as “Level 3” emergency response – lowest level.

 PAHO: Supporting Americas response, facilitating info exchange under International Health Regulations.

Ship Status- Location: Sailing toward Tenerife, Canary Islands, due to dock May 10-11 Spain agreed to receive it despite local protests- On board: No symptomatic passengers currently. 3 medically evacuated this week. Body of German passenger still on ship.

Contact Tracing & Monitoring

29 passengers disembarked in St Helena April 24 before outbreak confirmed. From 12+ countries including US, UK, Spain, Singapore.- US: Georgia, Arizona, California, Texas monitoring asymptomatic returning passengers. CDC says US risk “extremely low”.

Singapore: 2 residents isolated and tested. UK: 4 contacts in St Helena, 2 self-isolating in UK. 1 passenger not yet traced.

 What Is Hantavirus?

Spread: Usually via rodent urine/droppings/saliva in enclosed spaces. Andes strain can spread person-to-person.

Symptoms: Fever, fatigue, muscle aches → severe respiratory distress, cardiac issues. No vaccine or specific treatment

Incubation: Up to 6 weeks, so WHO warns “more cases may be reported”.

Context & Concerns

Argentina: 101 hantavirus cases since June 2025 – double last year. Experts link rise to climate change expanding rodent habitats.

Canary Islands: Locals worried about repeat of Covid quarantines. “People are scared,” says resident.

Travel: WHO says no travel restrictions needed yet. Outbreak raising questions ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Contained outbreak with low global risk, but first evidence of ship-based human-to-human hantavirus spread. Authorities tracing contacts across 23 nationalities.