WHO confirms 10 global hantavirus cases, Hondius crew remain symptom-free

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 10 global cases of hantavirus, revising its earlier figure down from 11 after one individual tested negative. Eight cases are laboratory-confirmed, and two are probable. Three deaths have occurred since the outbreak began on the MV Hondius cruise ship. The WHO reiterates that the risk of global spread remains low. The ship's 26-member crew, including the captain, are symptom-free and remain under monitoring. While no new cases are currently symptomatic on board, the WHO warns that more cases may emerge due to the virus's long incubation period as passengers return home. Passengers will undergo quarantine and testing. The WHO emphasizes that this does not indicate an expanding outbreak but rather effective control and testing measures.

Six passengers from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius arrived in Perth, Australia, on Friday, May 15, 2026, for a mandatory three-week quarantine. The group, consisting of five Australians and one New Zealander, traveled from the Netherlands on a private jet and will be housed at the Bullsbrook quarantine facility. All six tested negative for the virus and showed no symptoms prior to their arrival. Australian Health Minister Mark Butler stated that the country is implementing stringent quarantine measures in response to the outbreak, which has resulted in three deaths among 11 cases on the ship. Decisions regarding precautions for the full 42-day incubation period are still being finalized.

France and the Netherlands have reported that all individuals identified as close contacts of hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship have tested negative for the illness. French health officials confirmed on Thursday that 26 close contacts in France showed no signs of infection. Similarly, Dutch authorities stated that all passengers who arrived in the Netherlands via evacuation flights from the ship this week have also tested negative. Twenty-six individuals remain in hospital isolation in France, including 22 identified as close contacts of a Dutch woman who was at the center of an international alert for the rare disease, which is typically transmitted by rodents.

Six passengers, including four Australian citizens, who were aboard the hantavirus-affected MV Hondius cruise ship are set to return to Perth, Western Australia, on Friday. They arrived in the Netherlands via an evacuation flight from Tenerife and will depart on a second flight Thursday evening, traveling in full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). All six passengers have tested negative for hantavirus and are asymptomatic. Upon arrival in Perth, they will undergo a mandatory three-week quarantine at a dedicated facility. The flight crew will also be subject to quarantine requirements. The outbreak has resulted in 11 reported cases, with three deaths.

The operator of the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius, Oceanwide Expeditions, is awaiting further information to decide on the vessel's future cruises. The ship, which experienced an outbreak resulting in three passenger deaths and eleven reported cases, had its passengers disembarked in the Canary Islands. Initially, the company stated no changes to its summer schedule were foreseen, including a departure on May 29. However, by the end of the week, Oceanwide Expeditions expects clarity on whether the MV Hondius will sail and its revised schedule. The ship is en route to Rotterdam with 25 crew members, two health workers, and one deceased passenger still aboard, none of whom are symptomatic.

Ushuaia, Argentina, a port city known as the "end of the world" and a departure point for Antarctic expeditions, is facing suspicions as the origin of a hantavirus outbreak. The cruise ship MV Hondius departed Ushuaia on April 1st. Five days later, a Dutch passenger, who had previously traveled through South America, developed symptoms of hantavirus, a disease transmitted by rodents. This outbreak resulted in the deaths of three cruise ship passengers, leading to the city grappling with these suspicions.

Spain has reported a new case of hantavirus, bringing the total confirmed cases linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship to 11. The latest case involves a passenger evacuated from the ship who tested positive while in quarantine in Madrid. The World Health Organization confirmed the outbreak, which includes three fatalities among the 11 cases, with nine identified as the Andes virus. The cruise ship, the center of the outbreak, is now en route to the Netherlands for disinfection. This development highlights the ongoing spread of the virus among those who were on board the MV Hondius.

Spain has confirmed a new case of hantavirus in a passenger evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius, which is at the center of an outbreak. The World Health Organization has reported 11 total cases, including three deaths, among those from the ship. The newly confirmed Spanish patient, who was among over 120 evacuated individuals, is stable with mild symptoms. The rare Andes variant of hantavirus, which can spread between humans, is involved in nine of the confirmed cases. The ship is returning to the Netherlands for disinfection, and while no larger outbreak is currently indicated, the WHO notes the possibility of more cases due to the virus's long incubation period.

Spain has reported a new case of hantavirus in a passenger evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius, bringing the total to 11 confirmed and suspected cases. Three deaths have been linked to the outbreak, including a Dutch couple believed to have been initially exposed in South America. The latest confirmed case is a Spanish passenger in quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid. The World Health Organization stated that cases are currently confined to the ship's passengers and crew, with no indication of a wider outbreak, though they acknowledge the potential for more cases due to the virus's incubation period. The MV Hondius is returning to the Netherlands for cleaning and disinfection.

Argentina is under scrutiny following three deaths from hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius, which departed from the country. While the mode of transmission is unconfirmed, the World Health Organization is investigating the possibility of pre-boarding infection. The Andes strain, known for human-to-human transmission and found in Argentina and Chile, was identified in surviving passengers. Argentinian scientists state the country is accustomed to hantavirus, with mandatory reporting in place since 1996. A recent increase in cases is attributed by experts to rodent behavior influenced by climate change and rainfall patterns, rather than a novel epidemic.

The Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, carrying passengers affected by a hantavirus outbreak, arrived in Tenerife, Spain, on Sunday, May 10, 2026. The outbreak, which has resulted in at least three deaths among eight ill passengers, prompted the World Health Organization and the European Union to request Spain manage the evacuation. All passengers are considered high-risk contacts and will undergo testing by Spanish health authorities before being transported to the airport for repatriation. Thirty crew members will remain on board to sail the ship to the Netherlands for disinfection. Hantavirus is typically spread by rodents but can, in rare instances, transmit between people.

British Army medics parachuted onto the remote island of Tristan da Cunha to assist a British national with suspected hantavirus. The individual, a resident of the island, began exhibiting symptoms two weeks after disembarking from the cruise ship MV Hondius in mid-April. The MV Hondius experienced a deadly outbreak of hantavirus, with six cases confirmed, including two other Britons treated off the ship. Oxygen supplies were also dropped to the island due to critical levels. The cruise ship has since arrived in Tenerife, where passengers are being repatriated. Hantavirus is rodent-borne, and the Andes strain, identified on the ship, can transmit between people.

Spanish authorities are preparing to isolate and evacuate 140 passengers and crew from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which is en route to the Canary Islands due to a hantavirus outbreak. The vessel is expected to arrive in Tenerife early Sunday morning. At least eight individuals have fallen ill, with three reported deaths and five known infected passengers who previously disembarked. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers the risk to the public low, emphasizing that hantavirus is not easily transmitted between people, though a specific strain on this ship may have rare human-to-human transmission capabilities. Health officials are tracking passengers who left the ship before the outbreak was detected on May 2.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reassured Tenerife residents about the arrival of the virus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius, emphasizing that the current hantavirus risk is low and distinct from COVID-19. A WHO expert and physicians are aboard assessing passengers, with no new symptoms reported. The ship, expected to dock Sunday, will disembark passengers for repatriation flights to various countries, with strict protocols in place to prevent local transmission. While the decision to receive the ship faced local opposition, Ghebreyesus praised Spain's solidarity and humanitarian response, highlighting Tenerife's capacity to manage the situation safely. Passengers will wear masks and undergo controlled disembarkation procedures.

UK health authorities are preparing to isolate approximately 24 British passengers and crew from a virus-affected cruise ship, the MV Hondius. These individuals, along with two from Ireland, will be transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital, a facility previously used for Covid-19 patients, upon their arrival in the UK. The ship is expected to anchor off Spain's Canary Islands on Sunday, and the majority of its nearly 150 passengers will be repatriated to their home countries. Currently, none of the individuals being brought to the UK are exhibiting symptoms of hantavirus. Upon arrival, they will undergo clinical assessment and testing as per the advice of the UK Health Security Agency.

The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed two British cases of hantavirus linked to an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. A new suspected case has also been identified in a British national on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha. The outbreak has resulted in five confirmed infections and three deaths among passengers of various nationalities. The cruise ship is expected to dock in Tenerife, Spain, where asymptomatic British passengers will be flown back to the UK and advised to isolate for 45 days. Seven British nationals previously disembarked in St. Helena, with two now isolating in the UK. The World Health Organization has stated that the global risk remains low, emphasizing that hantavirus is a different virus from coronavirus and does not spread as easily between people.

A third British national is suspected of having hantavirus in connection with an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. This individual is currently on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha. Two other British men have confirmed cases, with one in stable condition in the Netherlands and the other in intensive care in South Africa. A total of five hantavirus cases have been confirmed, including one fatality among the ship's passengers. The MV Hondius is expected to dock in the Canary Islands, where a chartered plane will repatriate remaining British passengers and crew to the UK. Upon return, those without symptoms will be asked to isolate.

Two new suspected cases of hantavirus have been reported, one in Spain and another on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha. These cases emerge as experts work to contain an outbreak initially linked to a luxury cruise ship. A 32-year-old woman in Alicante, Spain, is undergoing testing for symptoms consistent with the virus. The remote location of Tristan da Cunha, thousands of kilometers away, raises concerns about the spread of the virus, which has been associated with three deaths. The World Health Organization has stated that the risk to the general public remains low and that the virus does not transmit easily.

Authorities are seriously investigating a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that departed from Argentina a month ago, resulting in three passenger deaths and four medical evacuations. The Andes strain of hantavirus, responsible for this outbreak, is not highly contagious and human-to-human spread is rare, with the World Health Organization emphasizing the low global risk to the general public. While the exact source is unclear, hantavirus typically spreads from rodents, and close contact on the ship may have facilitated some human-to-human transmission. Eight cases, including confirmed and suspected, have been identified among passengers, with efforts underway to trace potentially exposed individuals who have traveled to various countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed five cases of hantavirus, with three additional suspected cases, linked to a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The outbreak occurred on the Hondius ship, which sailed from Cape Verde to Tenerife. Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses that can cause severe illness in humans. The identified strain is the Andes virus, known for its potential for limited human-to-human transmission. Three deaths have been reported among the affected passengers. While the WHO acknowledges the seriousness of the incident, it assesses the overall public health risk as low.

Hong Kong health authorities are requesting further details from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding a hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. The outbreak, which occurred after the vessel departed Argentina on April 1, has resulted in three deaths and five confirmed cases out of eight suspected. Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection is actively seeking information from the WHO to enhance preventative measures against the rare disease reaching the city. The hantavirus strain involved is known to have limited human-to-human transmission capabilities.

A hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius has led to human-to-human transmission of the Andes strain, according to South Africa. The ship, carrying nearly 150 people, was marooned off Cape Verde due to the outbreak, which has resulted in at least three deaths, including a Dutch couple and a German national. A British national is in intensive care in South Africa, and a Swiss passenger has been diagnosed. The World Health Organization has stated the risk to the general public is low, as human-to-human spread is rare and typically occurs through very close contact. The ship is now heading to Spain's Canary Island of Tenerife after being granted permission to dock.

Argentine investigators are focusing on a bird-watching tour in Ushuaia as the potential origin point for a deadly hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. The leading hypothesis suggests a Dutch couple may have contracted the Andes strain of the virus from rodent droppings at a landfill visited during the tour before boarding the ship. This strain, typically found in Argentina and Chile, can spread through close contact, though human-to-human transmission is rare. The outbreak has resulted in three confirmed deaths among passengers, with contact tracing ongoing across Europe and Africa. Cases have been confirmed in Switzerland, South Africa, and Senegal, with three suspected cases evacuated for treatment in the Netherlands.

The Canary Islands have refused to allow the cruise ship MV Hondius, experiencing a hantavirus outbreak, to dock at any of its ports, despite the Spanish government's agreement. Regional authorities cited a lack of sufficient information to guarantee public safety. Three passengers, a Dutch couple and a German national, have died from the disease, with eight cases linked to the vessel according to the WHO. While Spain's government stated the ship would be permitted to dock under international law, the Canary Islands' president, Fernando Clavijo, has blocked the entry, calling for a meeting with the Prime Minister. One Swiss national aboard is receiving treatment in Zurich, with authorities stating they pose no public threat.

Two cases of hantavirus have been confirmed, with five more suspected, among individuals aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, currently stranded near Cape Verde. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that out of the seven cases, three people have died, one is critically ill, and three have mild symptoms. The deceased include a Dutch couple and a German national. The ship, carrying mostly British, American, and Spanish passengers, departed from Argentina in March. The WHO stated the risk to the wider public is low, as hantavirus rarely spreads between humans. Efforts are underway to trace contacts of one of the deceased Dutch women who traveled by flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg. The ship operator is working on disembarking passengers, with potential destinations including Las Palmas or Tenerife.

A hantavirus outbreak linked to the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in seven identified cases, including three deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The ship, carrying 147 passengers and crew from 23 countries, is currently quarantined off Cabo Verde. Among the confirmed cases are a British passenger in intensive care and a Dutch passenger who died after disembarking, who had also tested positive. The outbreak's origin is believed to be connected to the voyage, with investigations ongoing to understand the transmission. The ship's passengers and crew are being monitored as the situation develops.

The World Health Organization (WHO) believes hantavirus may have spread between passengers on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, where three individuals have died. While typically transmitted by rodents, the WHO suggests close human contact on the ship could be a factor, though this is considered rare. The virus was likely contracted by the first ill passenger before boarding. Seven cases, two confirmed and five suspected, have been identified among the 149 passengers and crew from 23 countries. The ship has been moored off Cape Verde since Monday. Disinfection and protective measures are in place, and two symptomatic crew members are scheduled for medical evacuation to the Netherlands. Spain has granted permission for the vessel to dock in the Canary Islands for further assessment.

Cape Verde has refused docking to the cruise ship MV Hondius due to a suspected hantavirus outbreak. Three passengers have died, and at least two others are sick, including a British tourist in intensive care in South Africa where a variant of hantavirus was identified. The cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, stated that the connection between the deaths and the virus is still under investigation. The ship, carrying 149 people of 23 nationalities, was anchored off the coast of Praia. Global health officials are actively investigating the situation.

Three individuals have died and others are ill following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship. The ship was sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde, where it is currently anchored. While three deaths are linked to the suspected outbreak, only one passenger, a British national, has been confirmed to have hantavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the risk to the general public remains low and is coordinating with countries for the evacuation of affected passengers. Investigations are ongoing to confirm the cause of illness and deaths.

A suspected hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in three deaths and several illnesses among passengers and crew. One case has been laboratory confirmed, with five additional suspected cases pending. The ship is currently stationary off the coast of Cape Verde. Three passengers have died, and one is in intensive care in South Africa. The World Health Organization is coordinating with governments and the ship's operator to arrange medical evacuations for two symptomatic passengers while investigating the outbreak and assessing public health risks. Authorities in Cape Verde have not yet authorized broader medical disembarkation.

Three passengers have died following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was traveling between Argentina and Cape Verde. The World Health Organization confirmed one case of hantavirus infection and five suspected cases, with three fatalities and one individual in intensive care in South Africa. Among the deceased were a Dutch couple, and the person in intensive care is a British national. Hantavirus, typically spread through rodent contact, can cause severe respiratory illness. The ship's operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, has not commented. Authorities are coordinating medical evacuations and considering isolation for other sick passengers.

Three individuals have died on the Atlantic cruise ship MV Hondius following a suspected hantavirus outbreak. The World Health Organization confirmed one laboratory-confirmed case of hantavirus, with five additional suspected cases among passengers traveling from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cabo Verde. Of the six affected individuals, three have died, and one remains in intensive care in South Africa. South African health officials reported the outbreak of a severe acute respiratory illness, with one patient testing positive for hantavirus. The virus is typically transmitted to humans from rodents.

Three passengers have died on the Atlantic cruise ship MV Hondius following a suspected hantavirus outbreak. The World Health Organization confirmed one case of the rodent-transmitted virus and stated that at least five other passengers were suspected of infection. Of the six affected individuals, three have died, and one is in intensive care in South Africa. The ship was sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde. Investigations are ongoing, including further testing and epidemiological studies, with the WHO coordinating efforts to evacuate symptomatic passengers. Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal disease transmitted through rodent droppings or urine.