WHO Reports 11 Hantavirus Cases on Cruise Ship MV Hondius, Orders 42-Day Quarantine

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a cluster of Hantavirus cases aboard the Dutch expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, with the total number of registered cases reaching 11 as of May 12, 2026. Among those affected, nine cases are confirmed, two are considered possible, and three patients have died. The ship, which departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 for an Antarctic and South Atlantic itinerary, eventually docked in Tenerife, Spain, via Cape Verde, where passengers were disembarked. Health authorities have mandated a 42-day quarantine period for all individuals on board, aligning with the virus's incubation period, while warning that additional cases may emerge. Although the Andes strain of Hantavirus can transmit between humans and carries a high mortality rate of 20 to 40 percent, officials currently see no signs of a major global outbreak. The incident highlights the severe risks associated with this rodent-borne pathogen, which is significantly more deadly than common coronaviruses, drawing comparisons to Ebola in terms of fatality rates.