WHO confirms five hantavirus cases linked to cruise ship deaths, sparking international containment effort

The World Health Organization has confirmed five hantavirus cases linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, which departed Argentina in April 2025, resulting in three deaths including a Dutch couple and a German national. The outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus and has triggered an international containment effort affecting 146 people from 23 countries still aboard the vessel, plus at least 30 passengers who disembarked at Saint Helena island. Health authorities across multiple countries including the US, UK, Canada, Singapore, and Switzerland are monitoring and testing potentially exposed individuals, while Argentina investigates whether the Dutch couple contracted the virus during their bird-watching trip through endemic areas in Neuquén and Misiones provinces before boarding in Ushuaia on April 1. The WHO has stated it does not anticipate a large epidemic similar to Covid-19, and Argentina is sending diagnostic materials to five countries to support the response despite announcing its withdrawal from the organization.

Outbreak timeline and casualties aboard MV Hondius

• ▪The 70-year-old Dutch man died on board the MV Hondius on April 11
• ▪A British national fell sick aboard the MV Hondius on April 27
• ▪A total of 146 people from 23 different countries remain aboard the MV Hondius, including 17 Americans
• ▪The World Health Organization confirmed five hantavirus infections among people connected to the cruise ship MV Hondius
• ▪A 70-year-old Dutch man fell ill on the MV Hondius with fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhea
• ▪At least 30 passengers disembarked from the MV Hondius at Saint Helena island in late April 2026
• ▪The MV Hondius is scheduled to arrive in Spain's Canary Islands on Sunday around noon local time

International contact tracing and containment efforts

• ▪The World Health Organization stated it does not anticipate a large epidemic similar to Covid-19 from the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak
• ▪A KLM airline crew member had contact with a 69-year-old Dutch woman who died in South Africa and is being tested for hantavirus
• ▪A British national from the MV Hondius was transferred to a private medical facility in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the patient remains in intensive care
• ▪Two Singaporean men in their 60s from the MV Hondius are self-isolating and being tested for hantavirus
• ▪The eight French nationals identified as close contacts were on an international flight on April 25, 2026, between Saint Helena and Johannesburg
• ▪Three passengers evacuated from the MV Hondius arrived in the Netherlands for treatment: a British national, a 65-year-old German, and a 41-year-old Dutch crew member
• ▪Two British nationals who left the MV Hondius at Saint Helena on April 24 are isolating at home as a precaution
• ▪The UK Health Security Agency is aware of five other British nationals who disembarked the MV Hondius on April 24, including four who remain at Saint Helena

Investigation into infection source in Argentina

• ▪The Dutch couple boarded the MV Hondius in Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1
• ▪The Dutch couple left Argentina for Uruguay by land on March 13
• ▪The Dutch couple arrived in Argentina on November 27
• ▪The Dutch couple returned to Argentina on March 27 to travel to Ushuaia
• ▪The Dutch couple re-entered Argentina from Chile through the province of Neuquén on January 31

Perspective of National health authorities in affected countries

• ▪The UK Health Security Agency is aware of five other British nationals who disembarked the MV Hondius on April 24, including four who remain at Saint Helena