Hantavirus Outbreak On Cruise Ship MV Hondius: What You Need To Know

A rare and deadly hantavirus outbreak has triggered international alarm after multiple confirmed cases and three fatalities were recorded aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, 2026, carrying 147 passengers and crew from 23 nationalities.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has activated its Emergency Operations Centers and classified the outbreak as a “Level 3” emergency response — signalling active monitoring while noting that the risk to the general public remains low.

What Is Hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses capable of causing serious illness and death. According to the CDC, they are primarily transmitted from rodents to humans through the inhalation of contaminated air particles from rodent faeces, urine, or saliva. While exposure does not always lead to illness, infections — though rare — are often severe, with fatalities most common among older individuals or those with underlying health conditions.

Strains found in the Western Hemisphere typically cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a respiratory illness carrying a mortality rate of approximately 35%. Critically, there is currently no cure or vaccine for hantavirus infection, making prevention the most important tool available.

The MV Hondius Outbreak

The first suspected case was a 70-year-old Dutch man who suddenly fell ill on the ship with fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. He died on board on April 11.

As of May 6, 2026, there have been five confirmed cases, three suspected cases, and three deaths — a Dutch couple and a German national.

WHO is working on the assumption that the Dutch couple who died were infected off the ship, likely during a birdwatching trip through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay before boarding — visiting sites where the species of rat known to carry the Andes virus was present.

The Andes Virus: A Unique Threat

The strain identified in this outbreak is the Andes virus — a particularly concerning variant. It is the only hantavirus in the Americas known to transmit between people, not just from rodents to humans. Transmission of the Andes virus requires very close, prolonged person-to-person contact, as it spreads through respiratory droplets.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stated that the overall public health risk remains low, and officials have dismissed concerns of hantavirus becoming a global pandemic threat similar to COVID-19.

International Response

Health authorities across four continents are tracking down and monitoring passengers who disembarked the ship before the outbreak was detected, and tracing others who may have had contact with them.

The Canary Islands refused to allow the ship to dock, citing insufficient information about the outbreak to guarantee public safety, despite the Spanish central government indicating it would be permitted. Spain’s interior ministry has since confirmed that passenger evacuation from the archipelago will begin from May 11.

The U.S. Department of State confirmed it is leading a coordinated whole-of-government response, including direct contact with passengers, diplomatic coordination, and engagement with domestic and international health authorities, noting that the risk to the American public is extremely low.

Prevention: What the CDC Advises

With no vaccine available, prevention remains the only defence. The CDC advises the following:

To avoid rodent contact:

• Seal all entry points in homes and buildings
• Store food securely in rodent-proof containers
• Control infestations without disturbing contaminated materials

When cleaning potentially affected areas:

• Disinfect surfaces before sweeping or cleaning
• Wear protective gear including gloves and a HEPA-filtering mask to avoid inhaling particles

Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO)