Evacuated cruise ship passengers test positive for hantavirus in isolation
Evacuated cruise ship passengers test positive for hantavirus during isolation in their home countries.
Event / Health
MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak
Hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius with confirmed cases and deaths among passengers who traveled through South America and Atlantic ports.
5 reported locations
Daily activity
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2026-08-17 to 2026-11-14 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 4 May, 00:07 UTC
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What happened
Andes virus hantavirus shows person-to-person transmission capability
The Andes virus variant of hantavirus identified in the cruise ship outbreak is the only type of hantavirus known to spread between people, though such transmission is typically limited to those with close contact with infected individuals. Transmission can occur through direct physical contact, prolonged time in close or enclosed spaces, and exposure to an infected person's body fluids. The virus usually spreads through rodent droppings but demonstrated person-to-person transmission capacity in this outbreak.
French passenger evacuated from MV Hondius tests positive for hantavirus
One of five French passengers repatriated from the MV Hondius on Sunday tested positive for hantavirus after returning to Paris. The woman did not develop symptoms until during the flight back to France. Upon arrival in Paris, her health condition worsened while she was being treated at a French hospital overnight, according to French Health Minister Stephanie Rist.
American passenger evacuated from MV Hondius tests positive for hantavirus
One of 17 American passengers evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship and flown to the United States tested positive for the Andes virus hantavirus. The individual tested positive but showed no symptoms at the time of testing. This passenger was transported in a biocontainment unit during the repatriation flight and was admitted to the biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for monitoring and follow-up testing.
MV Hondius cruise ship experiences hantavirus outbreak with multiple deaths
The Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius experienced a hantavirus outbreak during a voyage that departed from Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1. The first death occurred on April 11 when a Dutch passenger died aboard. By early May, the World Health Organization confirmed a suspected Andes virus outbreak as the ship approached Cape Verde. A total of 10 confirmed and probable hantavirus cases were identified, with at least three passengers confirmed or suspected dead from the infection.
Second American cruise ship passenger exhibits mild hantavirus symptoms
A second American passenger among the 17 evacuated from the MV Hondius was displaying mild symptoms consistent with hantavirus infection. The status of whether this individual had tested positive for the virus was not yet confirmed at the time of reporting. This passenger was being transported to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for assessment and monitoring.
Hantavirus mortality rate and symptom timeline documented
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hantavirus causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome with a fatality rate of 38% in those who develop respiratory symptoms. Symptoms typically appear between one and eight weeks after exposure to the virus and can include fever, chills, and muscle aches. The disease primarily spreads through contact with infected rodent droppings, though the Andes virus variant can rarely transmit between humans.
World Health Organization recommends 42-day isolation for cruise ship passengers
The World Health Organization recommended a 42-day isolation period for all passengers who were aboard the MV Hondius during the hantavirus outbreak. The WHO also recommended close monitoring of former passengers and advised that many countries quarantine them upon arrival in their home nations. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the general public should not be concerned about the outbreak, characterizing it as not comparable to COVID-19 and noting that the risk to the broader public is low.
MV Hondius cruise ship passengers evacuated from Canary Islands
All passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship began disembarking on Sunday morning in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, after the vessel anchored there. Personnel in full-body protective gear and breathing masks escorted travelers from the ship to shore. Passengers were transferred to charter flights operated by military and government planes to return to their home countries across more than 20 nations. The disinfection and monitoring process continued on Monday as evacuation efforts proceeded.
French cruise ship passenger tests positive for hantavirus
A French passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship tested positive for hantavirus. The patient's health deteriorated during the repatriation flight and overnight into May 11, with test results confirming the infection. The patient is hospitalized in a specialized infectious disease hospital.
French government holds crisis meeting on hantavirus situation
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held a government meeting on May 11 afternoon to monitor the hantavirus situation closely. The government implemented strict isolation measures for 42 days, described as among the most stringent in the European Union.
Five French passengers from MV Hondius cruise ship hospitalized for isolation
Five French passengers evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship were repatriated and hospitalized at Bichat Hospital in Paris. They are isolated in air-filtered rooms to prevent contamination and will remain hospitalized for a minimum of 15 days. Four of the five passengers tested negative for hantavirus.
Hantavirus mortality rate estimated at 30 to 50 percent of infected cases
According to Arnaud Fontanet, director of the emerging diseases epidemiology unit at Institut Pasteur, the hantavirus has a mortality risk of 30 to 50 percent among infected individuals. Experts anticipate the appearance of isolated cases in the coming weeks due to the long incubation period.
Andes hantavirus variant detected on cruise ship with human-to-human transmission potential
The hantavirus variant detected on the MV Hondius cruise ship is the Andes strain, a rare variant capable of human-to-human transmission. The virus has an incubation period ranging from 2 to 3 weeks on average, but can extend up to 6 weeks or even 3 months.
Dutch cruise passenger died from hantavirus after travel on multiple flights
A Dutch cruise passenger infected with hantavirus died and had traveled on the Saint Helena to Johannesburg flight on April 25. The deceased passenger briefly boarded the Johannesburg to Amsterdam flight but did not ultimately travel on it.
Twenty-two French contacts identified from hantavirus exposure
French health authorities identified 22 French individuals as contacts of the hantavirus case. Eight contacts were passengers on a flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg on April 25 and were quickly isolated. Fourteen other contacts were on a subsequent flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam and were instructed to isolate at home and contact health authorities.
World Health Organization records six confirmed hantavirus cases from cruise ship outbreak
The World Health Organization documented six confirmed cases of hantavirus among eight suspected cases, including three deaths. In addition to the French patient, an American cruise passenger was also confirmed positive for hantavirus.
French government calls for calm amid hantavirus outbreak
French government spokesperson Maud Bregeon called for calm and urged the public not to create panic regarding the hantavirus situation. The government emphasized it was not in a situation comparable to the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed that authorities were acting with heightened vigilance. A 42-day isolation measure was implemented to protect French citizens.
French woman tests positive for hantavirus after evacuation from cruise ship
A French female passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship tested positive for hantavirus. Her health condition deteriorated overnight after being repatriated to France, and PCR tests confirmed the positive result. She was hospitalized in a specialized infectious disease facility and placed in strict isolation with specialized air filtration systems for a minimum of 15 days.
American passenger tests positive for hantavirus from cruise ship
An American passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship tested positive for hantavirus. Another American passenger presented with mild symptoms. Both were among the evacuated passengers being monitored and receiving care at a specialized medical center in Omaha, United States.
Twenty-two hantavirus contact cases identified in France
French health authorities identified 22 contact cases of individuals who had contact with infected MV Hondius passengers. Eight contacts were on a flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg on April 25 and were rapidly isolated. Fourteen additional contacts were on the Johannesburg-Amsterdam flight and were asked to contact authorities for reinforced isolation measures. Health authorities identified contacts across multiple international flights.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
French government convenes crisis coordination meeting on hantavirus response
France activates government-level crisis coordination for hantavirus outbreak response and passenger repatriation.
Andes hantavirus shows 30-50 percent mortality rate in outbreak cases
Andes hantavirus shows 30-50 percent mortality rate; human-to-human transmission capability documented.
MV Hondius departs Canary Islands following passenger evacuation completion
MV Hondius departs Canary Islands after completing passenger evacuation; ship proceeds to Rotterdam for disinfection.
Twenty-two contact cases identified as nations enforce 42-day quarantine protocols
Twenty-two French contact cases and 42-day WHO quarantine protocols establish systematic international monitoring for cruise ship passengers.
Hantavirus cases rise to eight with three confirmed deaths
Eight hantavirus cases confirmed with three deaths; French, American, and Dutch nationals among documented infections.
Secondary hantavirus cases confirmed across continents post-evacuation
Secondary hantavirus cases confirmed in evacuated passengers across multiple countries.
Spanish authorities screen passengers as evacuation coordination intensifies
Spanish health screening accelerates as eight confirmed cases lead to coordinated international evacuation and isolation protocols.
Over 100 passengers disembark as WHO classifies contacts as high-risk
WHO classifies MV Hondius passengers as high-risk contacts as final disembarkation phase concludes with 100+ passengers leaving ship.
Hantavirus outbreak stabilizes with three confirmed deaths as international evacuation concludes
MV Hondius evacuation complete with three deaths; passengers from 14 nations repatriated for 42-day monitoring.
France repatriates five cruise ship passengers in coordinated hantavirus response
France repatriated five hantavirus-exposed cruise ship passengers and activated governmental crisis coordination.
Rodent exposure and symptom delays shape hantavirus outbreak assessments
Rodent exposure caused outbreak; eight-week symptom delays challenge detection; CDC alerts amid WHO's low global risk assessment.