MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak (2026)

MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak is an international outbreak caused by hantavirus cases detected aboard the Dutch-flagged passenger vessel MV Hondius in April and May 2026.

Cases of hantavirus were identified among passengers and crew aboard the vessel, which departed from Ushuaia port in Argentina and was en route to Cabo Verde. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and health authorities of the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and the United Kingdom coordinated a joint response to the incident. As of 4 May 2026, seven cases were identified among the 147 passengers and crew on board (two laboratory-confirmed and five suspected); three of these cases resulted in death.

Vessel and Voyage Information

MV Hondius is a Dutch-flagged passenger vessel. On 1 April 2026, it departed from Ushuaia port in Argentina on an expedition voyage across the Atlantic Ocean toward Cabo Verde. The itinerary includes some of the world’s most remote settlements, such as the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean.

The journey was organized as a nature expedition focused on Antarctica and the South Atlantic; cabin fares ranged from 14,000 to 22,000 euros (approximately 16,000 to 25,000 US dollars). A total of 147 people were on board, comprising 88 passengers and 59 crew members, all nationals of 23 different countries. The majority of passengers were citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States and Spain.

First Cases and Deaths

• 6 April 2026: A Dutch male passenger developed fever, headache and mild diarrhea.
• 11 April 2026: The passenger died after developing respiratory distress. At the time, the vessel was en route to Tristan da Cunha.
• 24 April 2026: The deceased passenger’s body was disembarked on Saint Helena Island. His wife, who exhibited gastrointestinal symptoms, left the vessel during the process of repatriating the body.
• 25 April 2026: The health condition of a Dutch female passenger deteriorated during a flight to Johannesburg.
• 26 April 2026: The female passenger died after being admitted to a hospital in Johannesburg. The World Health Organization confirmed that Dutch authorities had verified the hantavirus diagnosis in this case.
• 27 April 2026: A 69-year-old British male passenger, exhibiting severe symptoms, was medically evacuated from the vessel to South Africa. He was treated in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Johannesburg, and South African authorities confirmed the presence of hantavirus in his case.
• 2 May 2026: A German female passenger died after developing pneumonia symptoms. Investigations into a possible hantavirus link in this case are ongoing.
• 3 May 2026: The vessel reached the waters off Cabo Verde.
• 4 May 2026: In a statement by the WHO, seven cases were confirmed on board. Two were laboratory-confirmed, five were classified as suspected cases. Three individuals had died, one was in critical condition and three exhibited mild symptoms.

Outbreak Expansion and Evacuations

While the vessel remained anchored off Cabo Verde, passengers were not permitted to disembark pending health inspections. Cabo Verde health teams, supported by the WHO, boarded the vessel to assess suspected cases.

The vessel operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, instructed passengers to remain in their cabins. Disinfection procedures were initiated, and staff caring for symptomatic individuals were required to use full protective equipment.

Two crew members, one British and one Dutch, developed acute respiratory symptoms. The British crew member, identified as the ship’s doctor, and the Dutch crew member were medically evacuated via Cabo Verde under coordination by Dutch authorities. One individual linked to the deceased German passenger was also included in the evacuation list. After the evacuations, the vessel was scheduled to proceed toward Spain’s Canary Islands.

Virus Characteristics and Transmission Routes

Hantavirus is a group of viruses primarily carried by rodents. Human infection most commonly occurs through inhalation of aerosolized particles from infected rodents’ feces, urine or saliva. In rarer cases, transmission may occur via contact with contaminated surfaces followed by touching the mouth, nose or eyes, or through rodent bites or scratches.

The virus can cause two distinct severe clinical syndromes. The first, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), typically begins with fatigue, fever and muscle aches, followed by headache, dizziness, chills and abdominal discomfort. In cases where respiratory symptoms develop, the fatality rate is approximately 38 percent.

The second syndrome, Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), is characterized as a severe illness primarily affecting the kidneys. Complications may include hypotension, internal bleeding and acute kidney failure.

There is no specific treatment for hantavirus infection. Supportive care, including oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, antiviral treatment and dialysis when necessary, is administered. Intubation may be required in severe cases.

Andes Strain and Human-to-Human Transmission

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases of South Africa (NICD) confirmed that the Andes strain was detected in both laboratory-confirmed cases. The Andes strain is the only known hantavirus type capable of human-to-human transmission and is primarily found in South America, especially Argentina. However, authorities emphasized that such transmission is extremely rare and occurs only under conditions of very close contact.

Maria Van Kerkhove, Director of the WHO’s Outbreak and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, stated that limited human-to-human transmission may have occurred on board. She highlighted the potential for transmission among close contacts such as spouses and individuals sharing cabins.

WHO assessments indicated that multiple transmission routes may have occurred simultaneously. The first case may have been infected prior to boarding, while some passengers and crew may have been exposed during excursions to islands visited by the vessel that harbor rodent populations. Oceanwide Expeditions informed authorities that no rodents were present on the vessel.

Hantavirus has an incubation period typically ranging from one to six weeks. Therefore, the WHO also considered the possibility that the Dutch couple contracted the virus while in Argentina before boarding the vessel.

Direction to Spain and the Canary Islands

Canary Islands Governor Anselmo Pestana announced that, following the recommendation of the World Health Organization, the MV Hondius would be directed to the Canary Islands. The Spanish Ministry of Health stated that Cabo Verde lacked the capacity to carry out the necessary health operations, while the Canary Islands were the nearest region with the required facilities. The ministry also emphasized that providing assistance to those on board was a “moral and legal obligation.”

Oceanwide Expeditions stated that the vessel’s arrival in the Canary Islands would take approximately three to four days. It was planned that the vessel would dock at either Gran Canaria or Tenerife, though the final port would be determined during the journey.

Spanish authorities announced that upon arrival, all passengers and crew would undergo health screenings, receive necessary medical treatment and then be repatriated to their countries of origin. Health operations would be conducted in designated areas using specialized transport to prevent contact with the local population and ensure the protection of medical personnel.

The operation will be carried out under the coordination of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization.