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.
9 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
Third British national diagnosed with suspected hantavirus linked to MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak
A third British national was diagnosed with a suspected case of hantavirus linked to an outbreak detected on the cruise ship MV Hondius. The suspected case was identified in a British citizen located in Tristan da Cunha, an island in the British territory of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, where the Hondius made a stop in late April.
Two confirmed British hantavirus cases from MV Hondius, one hospitalized in South Africa, one in Netherlands
Two British citizens previously confirmed with hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak remain under medical care. One patient is hospitalized in South Africa and the other is hospitalized in the Netherlands.
KLM flight attendant with suspected hantavirus symptoms tested negative
A KLM airline flight attendant who presented mild symptoms of hantavirus and was hospitalized in Amsterdam tested negative for the virus, the World Health Organization announced. The flight attendant was aboard a Johannesburg to Netherlands flight on April 25 and had contact with a 69-year-old Dutch passenger who subsequently died from hantavirus infection.
Two British nationals from MV Hondius returned to UK and ordered to isolate
Two people who returned to the United Kingdom on Wednesday after staying aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, and who were not showing symptoms at the time, were ordered to isolate, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
Three deaths confirmed from hantavirus outbreak on MV Hondius cruise ship
Three deaths have been confirmed from the hantavirus outbreak associated with the MV Hondius cruise ship. The deceased include a 69-year-old Dutch passenger, her spouse who died aboard the vessel, and a British passenger. The World Health Organization reported eight total cases linked to the outbreak as of Thursday, with three confirmed cases.
Health authorities in multiple countries contacting MV Hondius and flight contacts
Dutch health authorities are contacting people aboard the KLM flight as a precaution. Individuals who suspect they may have contracted hantavirus or who have confirmed infections are receiving medical care or have been ordered to isolate in the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and South Africa.
Dutch passenger with hantavirus prevented from boarding KLM flight due to illness
A 69-year-old Dutch passenger, who was subsequently confirmed to have hantavirus infection, was prevented from boarding a KLM flight from Johannesburg to the Netherlands on April 25 due to her health condition. KLM crew decided not to permit her to board the aircraft. The passenger was instead admitted to a hospital in Johannesburg where she tested positive for hantavirus.
Oceanwide Expeditions tracing all passengers and crew from MV Hondius voyage beginning March 20
Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the MV Hondius cruise, is attempting to trace and locate all passengers and crew members who boarded or disembarked at stops since the voyage began on March 20 from Ushuaia, Argentina. The cruise was originally scheduled to reach Cape Verde before concluding at Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
MV Hondius cruise ship began voyage on April 1 from Ushuaia, Argentina
The MV Hondius, operated by Dutch cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions, departed on April 1 from Ushuaia, Argentina. The vessel was scheduled to reach Tenerife in the Canary Islands on Sunday and had made stops at various ports including Tristan da Cunha in late April.
Approximately 30 people being traced for possible hantavirus exposure at St. Helena
Health authorities traced approximately 30 passengers who disembarked at Saint Helena between April 22-24 to identify potential hantavirus cases or contacts. The MV Hondius made a port call at the remote British island with a population of 4,400 inhabitants in the South Atlantic.
Third British citizen develops suspected hantavirus case linked to cruise ship
The United Kingdom Health Security Agency reported a third British citizen with suspected hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius outbreak. This patient was located on Tristan da Cunha, a British territory in the South Atlantic where the ship made a stop between April 22-24. Two other British nationals had previously tested positive for confirmed hantavirus.
MV Hondius cruise ship carrying 150 passengers and crew heads to Canary Islands
The MV Hondius, operated by Dutch cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions, departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1 and was traveling to Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands where it was expected to arrive on Sunday. The ship carried approximately 150 passengers and crew members from about 20 countries.
No vaccine or specific treatment exists for hantavirus
The hantavirus can cause acute respiratory syndrome. Medical authorities confirmed that no vaccine or specific therapeutic treatment exists for hantavirus infection. The Andes strain identified in the cruise ship outbreak is the only known strain capable of human-to-human transmission.
Canary Islands authorities refuse cruise ship port access, plan offshore transfer
The regional government of the Canary Islands announced that the MV Hondius would not dock at Tenerife but would remain anchored offshore. Passengers and crew would be transferred to smaller boats for transport to Tenerife South airport for evacuation, planned for the following week.
US President Trump states hantavirus situation is largely under control
US President Donald Trump stated that the hantavirus situation aboard the MV Hondius was largely under control and indicated that a comprehensive report would be published.
WHO notifies 12 countries of potential hantavirus cases among cruise ship passengers
The World Health Organization informed 12 countries whose nationals disembarked at Saint Helena of potential hantavirus exposure. These countries included Germany, Canada, Denmark, the United States, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Turkey.
WHO assesses global risk of hantavirus spread as very low
The World Health Organization stated that the risk of hantavirus spreading to the global population is absolutely low. According to WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier, hantavirus is dangerous only to the directly infected person and requires close contact, nearly face-to-face proximity, for human-to-human transmission. The virus is not as contagious as COVID-19 or measles.
WHO confirms five hantavirus cases and three suspected cases aboard cruise ship
The World Health Organization reported a total of five confirmed hantavirus cases and three suspected cases among passengers and crew aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The incubation period for the Andes strain of hantavirus can extend up to six weeks, meaning additional cases were possible.
KLM flight attendant who contacted hantavirus patient tests negative
A KLM airline flight attendant who presented mild hantavirus symptoms and had been hospitalized in Amsterdam tested negative for the virus. The attendant had been in contact with a 69-year-old Dutch passenger aboard a flight from Johannesburg to the Netherlands on April 25, who had subsequently died from hantavirus infection.
Hantavirus is endemic in Argentine Andes region with 60 cases annually
Hantavirus is endemic in certain regions of Argentina, particularly in the Andean areas, with at least 60 cases reported annually in recent years. The Argentine Ministry of Health could not confirm the origin of contagion despite tracing the route of the initial patient.
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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.