Medical epidemiologist explains what to know about the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak
Summary
A hantavirus outbreak on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius has infected at least eight people and caused three deaths since early April 2026. The ship was heading to the Canary Islands after evacuating sick passengers, and health officials worldwide are monitoring others who disembarked, though they say the risk to the public is low.Key Facts
- The MV Hondius cruise ship had a hantavirus outbreak confirmed by the World Health Organization on May 4, 2026.
- So far, eight cases of hantavirus infection have been confirmed, with three deaths reported.
- Hantavirus is a group of viruses carried by rodents like mice and rats, which do not get sick themselves.
- The virus spreads mainly through inhaling dust contaminated with infected rodents’ urine or droppings.
- The strain on the cruise ship is the Andes virus, a New World hantavirus found in the Americas that can cause severe lung disease.
- Symptoms appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and often start like the flu before worsening to lung and heart failure.
- There is no specific treatment; only supportive care like breathing help and fluids is available.
- Epidemiologists are concerned about possible person-to-person spread of this virus in close settings like ships, which is unusual for hantavirus.
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