WHO Confirms Possible Human-to-Human Transmission of Hantavirus on Cruise Ship

The MV Hondius cruise ship experienced a hantavirus outbreak that killed three passengers after departing from Ushuaia on April 1, 2026. WHO confirmed possible human-to-human transmission among the 147 passengers and crew. The ship arrived at Cape Verde on May 3, 2026, but was denied docking and remains anchored 3 kilometers offshore. Seven cases have been identified, with evacuations planned before the vessel moves to the Canary Islands for full investigation.

Hantavirus outbreak timeline

• ▪A Dutch passenger died on board the MV Hondius on April 11, 2026.
• ▪The wife of the Dutch passenger died on April 26, 2026, and authorities confirmed a variant of hantavirus.
• ▪The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia on April 1, 2026.
• ▪The MV Hondius arrived at Cape Verde on May 3, 2026.
• ▪A second sick man from the MV Hondius was flown to Johannesburg on April 27, 2026.
• ▪The wife of the Dutch passenger who died on the MV Hondius was flown to Johannesburg on April 24, 2026.
• ▪As of May 4, 2026, seven cases of hantavirus have been identified on the MV Hondius, including two laboratory confirmed cases and five suspected cases.
• ▪A German passenger on board the MV Hondius died on May 2, 2026, though the cause has not yet been confirmed.

Passenger deaths

• ▪The Dutch couple who died on the MV Hondius had the woman confirmed as having hantavirus.
• ▪Three people have died from the hantavirus outbreak on board the MV Hondius as of May 5, 2026.

Medical evacuations

• ▪A British national is being treated for hantavirus in a South African private health facility in Sandton in critical condition.
• ▪Medical personnel boarded the MV Hondius on May 5, 2026, to evacuate two people from the vessel.
• ▪One patient from the MV Hondius is in intensive care in South Africa and is improving.

Human-to-human transmission concerns

• ▪The World Health Organisation believes there may be human-to-human transmission of hantavirus happening among close contacts on the MV Hondius.

Ship containment measures

• ▪The MV Hondius has 147 passengers and crew on board.
• ▪Cape Verde will not allow the MV Hondius to dock because of public health concerns and the ship will stay in open waters close to shore.
• ▪Twenty-three out of 149 people on board the MV Hondius are British nationals.
• ▪The MV Hondius is anchored approximately 3 kilometers offshore of Praia, Cape Verde.

WHO response

• ▪The World Health Organisation is working with Spanish authorities who have agreed to welcome the MV Hondius to the Canary Islands for a full epidemiologic investigation and full disinfection of the ship.
• ▪The UK Foreign Office is working with cruise ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions to provide assistance for Britons on board the MV Hondius.

Perspective of World Health Organization

• ▪The World Health Organisation is working with Spanish authorities who have agreed to welcome the MV Hondius to the Canary Islands for a full epidemiologic investigation and full disinfection of the ship.

Perspective of Cape Verde authorities

• ▪Cape Verde will not allow the MV Hondius to dock because of public health concerns and the ship will stay in open waters close to shore.

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