Key facts
- The World Health Organization declared a hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius over.
- The outbreak infected 13 people and caused three deaths.
- The virus involved was Andes virus, a rare strain typically found in Argentina and Chile.
- The last identified contact of an exposed person completed quarantine and tested negative.
- The MV Hondius departed Argentina on April 1, 2026.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an outbreak of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius to be over. The declaration comes after the last identified contact of an exposed person completed quarantine and tested negative for the virus. The outbreak involved the Andes virus, a rare strain typically circulating in Argentina and Chile, and infected 13 people, resulting in three deaths. The MV Hondius departed from Argentina on April 1, 2026.
Initially, a cluster of severe respiratory illness aboard the ship was reported to WHO on May 2, 2026. By May 4, seven cases, including two laboratory-confirmed and five suspected, were identified, with three deaths and one patient in intensive care. The ship carried 147 passengers and crew of 23 nationalities. WHO coordinated an international response, including medical evacuations and risk assessments, working with involved countries and the ship's operators. Officials emphasized that the event was contained and the risk to the global population remained low, advising against panic or travel restrictions.
Human hantavirus infection is primarily acquired through contact with infected rodents, though limited human-to-human transmission of Andes virus has been reported in previous outbreaks. Symptoms typically include fever, headache, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues, progressing to severe respiratory distress and shock in some cases.