The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship over on July 2-3, 2026, after the last exposed person completed quarantine and tested negative for the virus [1, 2, 3, 4]. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "No further cases have been reported since May 25. We are therefore very pleased to say that WHO considers the outbreak of hantavirus over" [1].
The outbreak infected a total of 13 people, including 12 confirmed and one probable case according to some sources, with three deaths reported [1, 2, 3, 4]. The cruise ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, 2026, visiting remote South Atlantic islands including Tristan da Cunha before heading to Tenerife, Canary Islands, where passengers were evacuated [1, 2, 4].
The MV Hondius docked in Rotterdam, Netherlands on May 18, 2026, and was cleared to resume sailing on May 30 after thorough cleaning and disinfection [2, 4]. More than 650 contacts were traced and monitored across 33 countries and territories in the follow-up effort [2, 4]. WHO is currently coordinating a study involving 21 countries to better understand disease development and to aid development of diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines [2, 4]. Tedros said the study will "support the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for future outbreaks" [2].
The hantavirus strain responsible was the rare Andes strain, endemic to Argentina and Chile, known to spread through rodent exposure and human-to-human contact [2, 4]. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, gastrointestinal issues, and severe lung symptoms in some cases, with incubation ranging from 1 to 8 weeks [2]. No vaccines or targeted antiviral treatments exist for Andes hantavirus at present [2, 4].
An investigation in a second Argentine province found no virus-carrying rodents, raising questions about the precise virus source for part of the outbreak [4]. WHO High Impact Epidemics Chief Diana Rojas Alvarez said, "The Hondius outbreak could be declared over as it was no longer a public health risk. However, Andes virus and other hantaviruses are still a public health threat for South America and some other endemic areas" [4].
