Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius Cruise Ship Traced to Argentina
A deadly outbreak of the Andes strain of Hantavirus aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in multiple fatalities and international evacuations. The index case, a Dutch ornithologist, likely contracted the virus from rodent exposure in Ushuaia, Argentina. Unlike typical strains, this variant allows limited human-to-human transmission, prompting health authorities in the US, France, and Europe to monitor close contacts. While 94 passengers were repatriated for quarantine, officials emphasize the general public risk remains low due to the specific transmission requirements.
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Argentina Expands Hantavirus Probe, Sends Teams with U.S. CDC to Test Rats in Mendoza
Argentina is expanding its investigation into the hantavirus outbreak that struck the MV Hondius cruise ship last month, sending scientists to trap and test rodents in the western province of Mendoza from June 8-12. The Health Ministry announced that specialists from the Malbran Institute, together with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will conduct the testing in Malargüe. The outbreak, caused by the Andes hantavirus, has resulted in 11 confirmed cases and three deaths, including a Dutch couple who died in April. Authorities are trying to trace the source of the virus, believed to have been contracted by the Dutch tourists during their overland trip through Argentina and Chile before boarding the cruise in Ushuaia. Lab results from earlier tests in Ushuaia are still pending. The World Health Organization has stated the hantavirus does not pose a pandemic threat due to low transmission risk.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.South African scientists identify hantavirus on cruise ship in Atlantic
South African infectious disease specialist Lucille Blumberg and colleagues at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases rapidly identified a hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius in the Atlantic Ocean. On May 1, Blumberg received an urgent email about a British passenger evacuated from Ascension Island to a Johannesburg hospital with suspected pneumonia. Other passengers were sick, and two had already died. Initial tests for Legionella, influenza, and other respiratory diseases were negative. The team then suspected hantavirus, a rare rodent-borne virus found in South America, where the ship had originated. Collaboration with experts from South America and the US, facilitated by the WHO, confirmed the Andes strain of hantavirus via blood tests within 24 hours. Three passengers died, and the British patient is improving. The ship was disinfected in Rotterdam.
The Washington Times stories: CultureResearchers collect rodents near Ushuaia for hantavirus tests after cruise ship deaths
Scientists from Argentina's ANLIS-Malbrán Institute began collecting rodents in the woods around Ushuaia on Tuesday to test for hantavirus, following the deaths of three cruise ship passengers aboard the MV Hondius. The first victim, a Dutchman, spent 48 hours in Ushuaia before embarking, raising suspicions of local infection. Biologists set over 100 traps in areas including Tierra del Fuego National Park and Baliza Escarpados, capturing at least 70 specimens. Blood and tissue samples will be sent to Buenos Aires for testing for the Andes strain, the only hantavirus strain known to spread between humans. Results are expected in a month. Local authorities downplay the risk, noting no hantavirus cases in the province in 30 years, while tourists remain unconcerned. The outbreak has triggered a global health scare, though the WHO has sought to reassure the public it is not a repeat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Buenos Aires TimesCanadian Passenger on MV Hondius Cruise Ship Tests Positive for Hantavirus
A Canadian passenger aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius has tested positive for hantavirus, according to health officials cited by CBC. The patient, who exhibited moderate symptoms, was hospitalized and remains in stable condition. The vessel had departed from Argentina on April 1 for an Atlantic crossing when the outbreak occurred. This latest case adds to a cluster of infections on board that has resulted in three deaths and approximately twelve confirmed cases. While there is currently no specific vaccine or treatment for hantavirus, health authorities have emphasized that the overall risk to the public remains low. They explicitly rejected comparisons between this outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to prevent unnecessary alarm. The incident highlights ongoing health monitoring protocols for international maritime travel, particularly concerning zoonotic diseases like hantavirus, which are typically transmitted through contact with rodent excreta.
Le SoirWHO Official: Hantavirus Outbreak at Critical 'Make or Break' Phase After Bird Flu Scare
Maria Van Kerkhove, a top official at the World Health Organization (WHO), expressed relief that a lethal outbreak on the MV Hondius polar cruise was caused by Andes hantavirus rather than the feared H5N1 bird flu. Initial concerns were high due to epidemiological links among index cases who had been bird watching in Argentina, raising fears of human-to-human avian influenza transmission. However, tests confirmed the pathogen as Andes hantavirus, a rodent-borne virus with a mortality rate of up to 50 percent. Unlike other hantaviruses, Andes can spread between humans, posing a significant pandemic risk. The outbreak has resulted in 11 infections and three deaths among passengers and crew. With approximately 147 individuals disembarking in Tenerife and others traced globally, Dr. Van Kerkhove warned that the situation is in a critical 'make or break' phase. The effectiveness of current quarantine measures will determine whether the outbreak burns out or sparks wider transmission chains. This incident highlights ongoing global health vulnerabilities to zoonotic diseases, even as the immediate threat of an H5N1 pandemic was avoided.
www.telegraph.co.uk for the latest news from the UK and around the world.Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: Climate Change Link and Three Deaths
A deadly Hantavirus outbreak aboard the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in three fatalities, raising concerns about the role of climate change in facilitating the virus's spread. The voyage, which departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, turned into a medical emergency when a 70-year-old Dutch passenger died on April 11 after suffering respiratory distress. The situation escalated when his wife disembarked at St. Helena and subsequently died in South Africa, where virologists confirmed human-to-human transmission through viral sequencing. A third victim, a German woman, died on board on May 2. The incident highlights the potential for zoonotic diseases to spread in confined environments and suggests that changing climatic conditions may be expanding the habitats of virus-carrying rodents, thereby increasing exposure risks in previously unaffected regions. The ship effectively became a floating isolation unit as it navigated remote South Atlantic islands, underscoring the challenges of managing infectious disease outbreaks in international waters and remote locations.
Times of IndiaDutch Ornithologist Identified as Hantavirus 'Patient Zero' in Cruise Ship Outbreak
Leo Schilperoord, a Dutch ornithologist, has been identified as the index case, or 'patient zero,' in a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. Health authorities suspect that Schilperoord and his wife contracted the virus from rat droppings during a birdwatching expedition in Argentina. The trip reportedly included a visit to a landfill, which may have increased their exposure to infected rodents. Following their return, the virus spread among passengers and crew, resulting in multiple fatalities and triggering a global health alert. The incident has led to the evacuation of citizens from various countries, including the UK, highlighting the severe risks associated with zoonotic diseases in confined environments like cruise ships. This outbreak underscores the critical importance of monitoring wildlife interactions and maintaining strict hygiene protocols during international travel. The identification of the source provides crucial insights for epidemiologists tracking the transmission chain and implementing containment measures to prevent further spread of the deadly virus.
Times of IndiaLast Passengers Evacuated from Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship; American Tests Positive
The final evacuation flights carrying passengers and crew from the MV Hondius cruise ship, struck by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, have landed in the Netherlands. Among the evacuees, one American passenger tested positive for the Andes virus strain, bringing the total confirmed cases among US nationals to at least one. US health officials are monitoring 18 American passengers, with some isolated at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Emory University Hospital. The complex international operation successfully repatriated 94 individuals to approximately 20 countries for quarantine. Since the outbreak began, three deaths involving a Dutch couple and a German national have been recorded. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reassured the public that the risk remains low, emphasizing that the virus requires prolonged close contact for transmission and is not comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic. The MV Hondius had departed from Argentina, where the virus is endemic, before crossing the Atlantic. US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump expressed confidence in the government's handling of the situation, stating the response was under control.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al JazeeraDutch Ornithologist Identified as Patient Zero in Fatal Hantavirus Outbreak Linked to Cruise Ship
Leo Schilperoord, a 70-year-old Dutch ornithologist, has been identified as patient zero in a deadly hantavirus outbreak connected to the cruise ship MV Hondius. Schilperoord contracted the Andes strain of hantavirus after visiting a landfill in Ushuaia, Argentina, while searching for the rare Darwin’s caracara bird. Authorities suspect he inhaled virus particles from rat droppings at the site. He fell ill days later and died aboard the ship. His wife, Mirjam Schilperoord, also contracted the virus during their journey and died shortly after disembarking in Saint Helena. The outbreak has since affected passengers from multiple countries, with health authorities confirming eight cases and three deaths. The MV Hondius docked in the Canary Islands for a managed repatriation operation, evacuating 94 individuals. Global health agencies emphasize that the public health risk remains low and distinct from pandemic-level threats like Covid-19. This incident highlights the dangers of zoonotic diseases in environments frequented by wildlife enthusiasts, even in seemingly unlikely locations such as waste disposal sites.
India Today | Latest StoriesUS Monitors Five Americans for Hantavirus After Flight Exposure from MV Hondius
Health officials in the United States are monitoring at least five Americans for symptoms of hantavirus following potential exposure on international flights. These individuals, residing in New Jersey, Maryland, and California, did not board the MV Hondius cruise ship but traveled on flights with passengers from the vessel, which is currently experiencing a rare outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus. This specific strain is notable for its ability to transmit between humans, unlike other strains typically spread by rodents. The outbreak on the Dutch expedition cruise has resulted in three deaths among the seventeen American passengers onboard. While one passenger tested positive and another showed symptoms, both were transferred to Emory University for evaluation, and the remaining fifteen are quarantined in Nebraska. The five contacts under monitoring are currently asymptomatic and in isolation. Health authorities emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low, as transmission requires close, prolonged contact with infected individuals or their bodily fluids. The incident originated in Argentina, where the index case likely contracted the virus while birdwatching.
New York PostFrance Confirms First Hantavirus Case Linked to Deadly Cruise Ship Outbreak
French health authorities have confirmed the nation's first hantavirus infection connected to an international outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius. The patient, a French woman repatriated from the vessel, tested positive after developing symptoms during a flight to Paris on May 10 and was subsequently transferred to a specialist infectious disease unit as her condition worsened. While four other evacuated French nationals initially tested negative, they remain under precautionary screening. Officials have identified 22 close contacts across France, including fellow passengers, who are currently monitored and isolated to prevent further transmission. The outbreak originated in early April after the ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina. By May 8, eight cases were recorded, including six laboratory-confirmed Andes virus infections and three deaths. The World Health Organization was notified on May 2 regarding severe respiratory illnesses among passengers and crew. Unlike typical hantaviruses spread by rodents, the Andes virus strain allows for limited human-to-human transmission. Investigators are still determining if rodent exposure on board triggered the initial spread. There is no specific antiviral treatment, with fatality rates reaching up to 40 percent in severe cases.
Eurasia ReviewHantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius Cruise Ship: Containment and Passenger Repatriation
A hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has resulted in three deaths and several illnesses. The ship docked in Tenerife, and passengers are being repatriated to their home countries, including Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and South Africa. The virus involved is the Andes strain, which can cause severe hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) and has a limited capacity for human-to-human transmission through close, prolonged contact. Authorities are tracing passenger movements to prevent further spread. Asymptomatic passengers are being placed in isolation or hospital monitoring depending on their country's protocols. The World Health Organization and epidemiologists stress that this outbreak is not comparable to COVID-19 due to the virus's transmission requirements.
Deutsche WelleHantavirus Patient Zero Identified as Dutch Ornithologist Who Visited Landfill
Leo Schilperoord, a 70-year-old ornithologist from the Netherlands, has been identified as the index case, or "patient zero," in a recent Hantavirus outbreak. According to reports from la Repubblica, Schilperoord is considered a superspreader who contracted the disease during an excursion to a local landfill. The incident highlights the potential zoonotic transmission risks associated with environments frequented by rodents, which are primary carriers of Hantavirus. As an ornithologist, Schilperoord's professional interest in wildlife may have influenced his presence in such areas, though the specific circumstances of his exposure at the waste site remain under investigation. Health authorities are tracing his contacts to contain further spread, emphasizing the importance of public awareness regarding Hantavirus symptoms and prevention. This case underscores the ongoing threat of emerging infectious diseases and the critical need for monitoring interactions between humans and natural reservoirs of pathogens. The identification of the patient zero provides crucial epidemiological data for understanding the outbreak's origin and trajectory.
Repubblica.itExpert Warns of Human-to-Human Transmission in Deadly Andes Hantavirus Outbreak
A deadly outbreak of the Andes virus, a strain of hantavirus, on the cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in three passenger deaths, prompting global health authorities to trace contacts across multiple countries. Dr. Don Vinh, an infectious-disease specialist at the McGill University Health Centre, highlights that this specific strain is unique due to its documented capability for human-to-human transmission, unlike most rodent-borne hantaviruses. While the World Health Organization and health experts assert that the risk to the general public remains low compared to viruses like measles or COVID-19, they urge heightened vigilance among clinicians and public health officials. Three Canadians, including one in Quebec, are currently being monitored for potential exposure. The Dutch-flagged vessel is en route to the Canary Islands, where over 140 crew members and passengers will be evacuated. Although the exact transmission route in this recent outbreak remains unconfirmed, the possibility of person-to-person spread necessitates careful monitoring of those exposed to prevent further community transmission. Experts emphasize that while healthcare sectors must remain alert, the general population faces no significant immediate threat.
Montreal GazetteExpert Analysis: Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship MV Hondius
An outbreak of hantavirus aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in eight reported cases, five of which are confirmed, and three passenger deaths as of May 6, 2026, according to the World Health Organization. Passengers are currently being evacuated for medical treatment, with one confirmed case receiving care in Zurich, Switzerland. The article features analysis by Craig Dalton, an adjunct associate professor at the University of Newcastle, who draws parallels to the 1993 Sin Nombre virus outbreak in the United States. While most hantaviruses spread through rodent exposure rather than person-to-person contact, the Andes virus, prevalent in South America where the ship departed, is known for rare human-to-human transmission. Dalton emphasizes the critical need for disease detectives to confirm diagnoses and rule out other respiratory infections like flu or Covid-19. The investigation aims to determine if the cluster is solely due to hantavirus or involves co-infections, highlighting the complexities of managing such outbreaks in confined maritime environments.
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