Dutch authorities evacuate symptomatic passengers as outbreak response intensifies
Medical evacuation of symptomatic MV Hondius passengers underway; one case in intensive care, three deaths confirmed.
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.
11 reported locations
Daily activity
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 4 May, 00:07 UTC
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What happened
France issues quarantine decree for hantavirus-exposed passengers
France issued a government decree placing the five French passengers who had been aboard the MV Hondius under quarantine for 42 days total, to include medical and epidemiological evaluation followed by isolation if necessary. The decree also permitted quarantine or isolation measures for individuals who had contact with infected or potentially infected persons.
French passenger shows fever symptoms; twenty identified as close contacts in France
One of the five French passengers aboard the MV Hondius presented with mild fever during the return flight to France. French health authorities identified approximately twenty people as close contacts requiring monitoring. All French passengers were placed under quarantine for 42 days pending medical and epidemiological evaluation.
American passenger tests positive for hantavirus after evacuation
One American passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius tested positive for hantavirus on May 11th. Another American passenger presented mild symptoms. Both were being transported in biological containment compartments on an aircraft to a specialized medical center in Omaha, Nebraska, where they would receive clinical evaluation and appropriate care.
Hantavirus outbreak detected on cruise ship MV Hondius with multiple deaths
The cruise ship MV Hondius, which departed from Ushuaïa, Argentina on April 1st and was traveling toward Cape Verde, experienced a hantavirus outbreak. The World Health Organization confirmed at least six cases of hantavirus, with three deaths reported. Passengers and crew were considered high-risk contacts and required 42 days of surveillance.
Hantavirus Andes strain confirmed; no vaccine or treatment available
The hantavirus strain identified on the MV Hondius was confirmed as the Andes strain. The virus is known to epidemiologists but is rare and dangerous. As of the reporting date, no vaccine or approved treatment exists for this strain, though health authorities noted the situation was not comparable to early COVID-19 pandemic conditions.
Evacuation of MV Hondius passengers begins at Canary Islands
Passenger evacuation from the MV Hondius began on May 10th at the Canary Islands, with approximately one hundred passengers and crew members disembarked. The evacuation continued on May 11th, with all passengers to be repatriated to their countries of origin under strict health supervision before the ship departed for the Netherlands.
US President Trump states cruise ship situation is under control
President Trump responded to media questions about the hantavirus-plagued cruise ship, stating that the situation is very much under control.
Hantavirus outbreak begins after travelers board cruise ship in Argentina
The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius originated after a Dutch couple traveled in South America and boarded the cruise ship in Argentina on April 1, 2026. The couple subsequently became infected and died weeks later. Hantavirus is typically spread through rodent droppings or contaminated dust, with symptoms potentially taking weeks to appear.
European health authorities coordinate response to hantavirus outbreak
The European Commission and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control worked to achieve coordination among different countries responding to the hantavirus outbreak. Individual countries maintained different protocols, with some like the UK and Spain implementing PCR testing while others, such as the US, chose not to impose mandatory quarantine on returning citizens.
Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius docks in Tenerife after hantavirus outbreak
The Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius docked at Granadilla Port in Tenerife, Spain on Sunday, May 10, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. following a deadly hantavirus outbreak on board. The ship had been anchored off the Canary Islands and began the process of evacuating its 149 passengers and crew members.
UK and US request additional testing on cruise ship; requests refused
The UK and US governments requested further testing of passengers on board the MV Hondius, but the request was refused by Spanish authorities. However, the UK and US were informed they could conduct testing on passengers once they boarded planes departing from the Tenerife airport.
Eight hantavirus cases confirmed on cruise ship with three deaths
The World Health Organization identified eight hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship: five suspected cases and three confirmed by laboratory testing. Three passengers died from the infection. The outbreak was traced to a Dutch couple who traveled in South America and boarded the ship in Argentina on April 1, 2026. Leo Schilperoord, an ornithologist, and his wife Mirjam Schilperoord both died weeks after boarding.
British passengers evacuated from hantavirus cruise ship to isolation unit
The UK Health Security Agency announced that 22 British passengers and crew members from the MV Hondius would be transferred to an isolation unit at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral in Merseyside following evacuation from the cruise ship in Tenerife.
American passengers evacuated to Nebraska Medical Center quarantine unit
Americans evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship were being transported to the Nebraska Medical Center's National Quarantine Unit. All evacuated American passengers were reported to be asymptomatic at the time of evacuation, though the exact number expected to remain in quarantine and duration of stay remained unclear.
Spanish authorities conduct health screening of cruise ship passengers
Spanish health authorities, led by Secretary of State for Health Javier Padilla, implemented health screening procedures for passengers leaving the MV Hondius at Tenerife. Doctors took temperatures and completed health surveys to identify hantavirus symptoms. Passengers were provided protective equipment including plastic ponchos and face and hair coverings before being transported to the airport.
WHO says hantavirus outbreak not another COVID pandemic
The head of the World Health Organization stated that the hantavirus outbreak is not another COVID-19 pandemic and that the risk to the public is low.
More than 100 passengers and crew members disembark from hantavirus-affected cruise ship
Over 100 passengers and crew members began disembarking from the MV Hondius at Tenerife. Those disembarking were equipped with protective suits and greeted by authorities in protective equipment. The passengers were transferred to Tenerife South Airport.
WHO classifies MV Hondius passengers as high-risk contacts
The World Health Organization classified the passengers and crew from the hantavirus-affected MV Hondius as high-risk contacts due to their exposure to the outbreak on the vessel.
French Prime Minister convenes emergency meeting on hantavirus situation
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held an emergency meeting at Matignon on Sunday to assess the situation regarding the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius and the repatriation of French passengers.
Five French passengers disembark from MV Hondius with no symptoms
Five French nationals who were passengers on the MV Hondius successfully disembarked and were declared asymptomatic by French authorities. They were transferred to shore by small boat and were scheduled to be repatriated by air within hours.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
Hantavirus shows rare person-to-person transmission capability
Hantavirus demonstrates person-to-person transmission and severe respiratory disease in outbreak investigation.
WHO coordinates evacuations as cruise ship sets course for Canary Islands
WHO coordinates evacuations as outbreak-affected cruise ship redirects toward Canary Islands.
Outbreak case count reaches six with one laboratory confirmation
Outbreak case count reaches six with one confirmed case and three deaths reported.
Understanding hantavirus: transmission, symptoms, and disease severity
Hantavirus has 38% fatality rate, spreads via rodent contact, with symptoms appearing one to eight weeks post-exposure.
One passenger in ICU as WHO coordinates medical evacuations
WHO coordinates medical evacuations as one passenger enters ICU care in Johannesburg.
WHO investigates hantavirus transmission patterns aboard cruise ship
WHO investigates hantavirus transmission source and exposure patterns aboard the cruise ship.
Three Deaths Confirmed in Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak
Three deaths confirmed in MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak; two patients evacuated.