Hantavirus Cruise Ship Outbreak: WHO Issues Update

Key Points

• WHO confirmed a cluster of hantavirus cases linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius.
• Eight cases have been reported so far, including three deaths.
• Five infections were laboratory-confirmed as Andes virus hantavirus.
• The Andes virus is the only hantavirus strain known to allow limited human-to-human transmission.
• WHO currently assesses the public health risk as low.
• International health agencies are coordinating testing, contact tracing, and passenger monitoring across multiple countries.

WHO Responds to Andes Virus Cases on MV Hondius

The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating an international public health response after multiple hantavirus infections were linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. The outbreak has raised concern among infectious disease experts because the identified strain, Andes virus, is the only hantavirus species known to spread between humans through close and prolonged contact. 

As of May 2026, eight cases associated with the ship have been reported, including three deaths. Five of those cases were confirmed through laboratory testing. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that although the incident is serious, the current public health risk remains low. 

The MV Hondius outbreak has drawn international attention because passengers from several countries had already disembarked before the virus was identified. Global health authorities are now tracing travelers and monitoring exposed individuals across Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. 

What Healthcare Professionals Should Know About Hantavirus

Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses typically transmitted through exposure to infected rodent urine, saliva, or droppings. Infection can lead to severe respiratory illness, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which may rapidly progress to respiratory failure and shock. 

The Andes virus strain is primarily found in South America, especially Argentina and Chile. Unlike most hantaviruses, the Andes virus has demonstrated limited person-to-person transmission in previous outbreaks, particularly among close household contacts and healthcare workers. 

WHO officials noted that the incubation period can extend up to six weeks, meaning additional cases may still emerge. Symptoms often begin with fever, fatigue, muscle aches, gastrointestinal complaints, and headache before progressing to severe pulmonary complications. 

International Containment Efforts and Diagnostic Expansion

WHO has activated multiple containment measures under the International Health Regulations (IHR). An infectious disease expert has been deployed onboard the ship to conduct medical assessments and evaluate infection risk among passengers and crew. 

To improve laboratory capacity, WHO arranged the shipment of 2,500 diagnostic kits from Argentina to laboratories in five countries. Authorities are also preparing operational guidance for the safe disembarkation and onward travel of passengers. 

Several countries, including Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, have initiated monitoring and isolation protocols for potentially exposed travelers. The CDC has also activated a Level 3 emergency response while emphasizing that the threat to the general public remains low. 

For healthcare professionals, the outbreak highlights the importance of early recognition of zoonotic respiratory infections, rapid international coordination, and infection prevention strategies in travel-associated outbreaks.

Source:

World Health Organization (WHO)