A hantavirus outbreak linked to the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius has prompted an international public health response after passengers developed severe respiratory illness during and after a South Atlantic voyage. Health officials have linked at least 11 cases and 3 deaths to the Dutch-flagged ship, according to recent updates from European and international public health authorities. The Associated Press reported that the outbreak had grown to 11 confirmed cases, including 3 deaths. The ship arrived at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, on May 10, and the evacuation of passengers and many crew members was completed by May 11.
Health officials identified the virus as Andes hantavirus, a strain associated with South America and the only hantavirus known to spread from person to person, although that spread is considered uncommon and usually requires close contact. Because the situation is still developing, case counts may change as passengers and contacts complete testing and monitoring.
For travelers with no connection to the MV Hondius, current public health guidance does not support canceling travel plans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains extremely low, and routine travel can continue as normal.
What Happened Aboard The MV Hondius
The World Health Organization (WHO) first received notification of the cluster on May 2, after passengers aboard the MV Hondius developed severe respiratory illness. At the time, according to the ship operator, 147 passengers and crew were on board, while 34 had previously disembarked. In its May 8 update, WHO reported 8 cases, including 6 confirmed hantavirus infections, 2 probable cases, and 3 deaths. The agency said all 6 laboratory-confirmed cases had been identified as Andes virus through PCR testing or sequencing.
The illness timeline began before the ship reached Tenerife. WHO said illness onset among the initial cases occurred between April 6 and April 28, with symptoms that included fever, gastrointestinal illness, rapid progression to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and shock. The MV Hondius had departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 and traveled through remote parts of the South Atlantic, including mainland Antarctica, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, and Ascension Island.
Investigators have not publicly confirmed how the virus entered the ship. WHO said early information showed that two of the first reported cases had traveled in South America, including Argentina, before boarding. The agency also said it was not yet clear how much contact passengers had with local wildlife during the voyage or before embarkation in Ushuaia. The outbreak is being handled through international contact tracing, medical evacuation, laboratory testing, isolation, and care.
What Hantavirus Is And How It Spreads
Hantavirus is a family of viruses carried by rodents. The CDC says people usually get hantavirus through contact with infected rodents in areas where the disease is present, especially after exposure to rodent urine, droppings, and saliva. Infections can occur when contaminated material is disturbed, and particles become airborne, especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. Travelers may face a higher risk in cabins, rural lodging, camps, expedition accommodations, storage areas, or other places where rodent activity goes unnoticed.
Most hantaviruses do not spread from person to person. The Andes virus is different because it is the only hantavirus known to spread between people. This spread is usually limited to people who have close contact with an ill person, including direct physical contact, prolonged time in close or enclosed spaces, or exposure to saliva, respiratory secretions, or other body fluids. WHO has also described limited human-to-human transmission in previous Andes virus outbreaks as uncommon.
That distinction is important for travelers. Health authorities are not treating the MV Hondius outbreak as a broad threat to cruise travel. The response is focused on passengers, crew members, health workers, responders, and others who may have had direct or sustained exposure to confirmed or probable cases. WHO has assessed the risk to the global population from this event as low, while the risk to passengers and crew on the ship has been considered higher due to their shared exposure setting.
What The Hantavirus Response Means For Travelers
Spain’s Health Ministry said it coordinated the response with the WHO, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Commission, countries involved in the response, and the Government of the Canary Islands after receiving notice through international health alert channels. ECDC said the MV Hondius arrived in Tenerife on May 10 and that passengers and crew were considered high risk at disembarkation and repatriated by non-commercial flights, whether or not they had symptoms. The ship’s 87 passengers and 35 crew members were escorted off in Tenerife, and the vessel sailed back to the Netherlands for cleaning and disinfection.
For travelers with no connection to the MV Hondius, current public health guidance emphasizes precautions rather than broad travel disruption. The CDC says current assessments show no increased risk for people traveling, and routine travel can continue as normal. Travelers should avoid contact with rodents, rodent nests, droppings, urine, saliva, and contaminated dust in areas where hantavirus may be present.
Anyone who traveled on the MV Hondius, shared transport with a confirmed or probable case, or had close contact with a symptomatic passenger or crew member should follow instructions from public health authorities. Travelers should seek medical care if they develop fever, muscle aches, stomach symptoms, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or difficulty breathing after a possible exposure.
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