Hantavirus kills three cruise passengers

Three passengers linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak died after contracting Andes hantavirus, according to the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cluster was first reported to WHO on May 2, 2026, after passengers and crew on the Dutch-flagged expedition ship developed severe respiratory illness in the Atlantic Ocean. By May 8, WHO said eight cases had been identified, including three deaths, and laboratory testing had confirmed Andes virus in six of them. The ship operator had 147 passengers and crew onboard at the time WHO was notified, and another 34 people had already disembarked, WHO said. The outbreak drew attention because Andes virus is the only hantavirus known to spread from person to person, though health agencies say that kind of transmission is uncommon and usually requires close, prolonged contact with a symptomatic patient. (who.int) ### Which ship is at the center of the outbreak? The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control identified the vessel as the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship carrying passengers and crew from 23 countries, including nine in the EU and European Economic Area. ECDC said it was notified on May 2 of a cluster of severe respiratory illness on board. (who.int) The CDC said the outbreak involved a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean and that U.S. agencies worked with international partners to bring Americans home. On May 10, the CDC said it repatriated 18 passengers who remained on the ship. ### Why did public-health agencies treat this as unusual? The CDC said Andes virus is the only hantavirus documented to spread person to person. (ecdc.europa.eu) WHO said human infection is primarily acquired through contact with infected rodents or their urine, feces or saliva, but added that limited human-to-human transmission has been reported in previous Andes virus outbreaks. The AJMC report highlighted that risk in the cruise setting, where passengers and crew shared cabins, dining areas and medical spaces. (cdc.gov) Health agencies have not said the ship outbreak was driven mainly by person-to-person spread, but the possibility prompted isolation, contact tracing, laboratory testing and follow-up across several countries. That is an inference based on the response measures described by WHO, CDC and the European Commission. (cdc.gov) ### How large is the outbreak now? As of May 13, WHO said 11 cases had been reported, including three deaths. Eight cases were laboratory-confirmed as Andes virus infections, two were probable and one U.S. case remained inconclusive and was undergoing further testing. As of May 22, ECDC said the total remained 11 cases, including nine confirmed and two probable, with no new cases or deaths since the previous update. (cdc.gov) The European Commission separately said the risk to the general public in Europe was assessed as very low. ### What does this mean for travelers and close contacts? (who.int) The CDC said the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains extremely low. Its outbreak guidance says exposed people may need monitoring because symptoms can appear 4 to 42 days after exposure, and early illness can resemble flu before progressing to severe breathing problems. WHO said outbreak control has included case isolation, care, medical evacuation and laboratory investigations. (ecdc.europa.eu) The CDC also issued interim guidance for health departments managing people potentially exposed through the M/V Hondius outbreak. ### Why are Europe-focused reports talking about climate and rodents? Euronews reported on May 23 that hantavirus has circulated in Europe long before the MV Hondius outbreak and cited concern that climate change and habitat disruption could alter rodent habitats and human exposure. (cdc.gov) ECDC’s background material says human orthohantavirus infections in Europe are most often caused by Puumala virus, with lower numbers from other strains. (who.int) WHO’s hantavirus fact sheet says the viruses are carried by rodents and that people usually become infected through contact with infected animals or their excreta. That is why the cruise outbreak has been treated both as an acute containment event and as part of a broader surveillance problem involving zoonotic disease. As of May 23, the latest public updates were posted by ECDC on May 21 and 22, WHO on May 13, and the CDC in outbreak guidance published this month. (euronews.com) Those agencies said exposed passengers, clinicians and local health departments should keep using their official notices for case definitions, monitoring windows and testing guidance. (ecdc.europa.eu) (who.int)