The story so far:

Following a hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius expedition cruise ship in early May, in which three deaths were reported and at least five others were infected, global attention has once again turned to the group of viruses. Hantavirus had made headlines last year following the passing of Betsy Hackman, the wife of renowned American actor Gene Hackman.

What happened on the ship?

The Dutch expedition cruise ship was travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina across parts of the South Atlantic towards Cape Verde and the Canary Islands when cases were identified among both the passengers and the crew.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said 147 passengers and crew were onboard, and 34 passengers and crew had previously disembarked. It said that as of May 8, there were eight cases (six confirmed and two probable cases) reported. Three of them died (two confirmed and one probable) after contracting the Andes strain of hantavirus. Several others were hospitalised with symptoms including fever and breathing difficulties.

After confirmed and suspected cases had been identified among passengers after they left the ship and travelled to different countries, health authorities in Singapore, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, and the U.S. began tracking and monitoring passengers.

What is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses mainly carried by rodents such as rats and mice. Human beings can get infected after coming into contact with infected rodent urine, saliva, or droppings, especially while cleaning or disturbing contaminated areas, which can release virus particles into the air.

Hantavirus infections can affect either the lungs or the kidneys. Some strains can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness, while others can lead to haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, affecting the kidneys and blood vessels. WHO states that even though most hantaviruses do not spread from one human to another, the Andes virus strain found in parts of South America has shown some human-to-human transmission, usually among close contacts.

Why are health agencies concerned now?

The outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship drew attention because passengers travelled across several countries before the infection was identified. WHO reported that cases were characterised by fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, pneumonia, respiratory distress, and shock. Reacting to fears of another pandemic, officials from WHO and the Disease Control and Prevention have stressed that hantavirus spreads very differently from viruses such as COVID-19 and is far less transmissible.

What are the symptoms?

WHO states that symptoms usually appear between one and eight weeks after exposure. Early symptoms are often flu-like and can include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, chills, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dizziness.

In severe cases, the infection can affect the lungs, causing coughing, chest tightness, breathing difficulty, and fluid build-up in the lungs. Some forms of the disease can also affect the kidneys and blood vessels, leading to kidney complications or bleeding problems. Since the symptoms can resemble illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, dengue, or pneumonia, diagnosis may sometimes be delayed. Even though infections remain rare overall, severe respiratory forms of hantavirus infection can be dangerous, particularly without early medical care.

Who is at risk?

People living or working in rodent-prone environments face the highest risk. Farmers, forestry workers, campers, construction workers, and people cleaning poorly ventilated or abandoned buildings are vulnerable. Health agencies also advise caution while handling pet rodents or entering rodent-infested spaces.

Is there a treatment or cure?

WHO notes that early diagnosis and timely medical attention can significantly improve outcomes. Prevention is important, particularly through rodent control, proper sanitation, and safe cleaning practices in potentially contaminated environments.

Currently, there is no specific antiviral cure or approved vaccine for hantavirus infection. Treatment mainly focuses on supportive medical care, including oxygen therapy, fluid management, and intensive care support during severe illness. Some patients may require mechanical ventilation.

Could this become another pandemic?

Public health agencies say current evidence does not suggest a COVID-19-like global pandemic scenario. WHO has repeatedly stated that the overall risk to the wider public remains low and that hantavirus does not spread easily between humans like airborne viruses such as influenza or SARS-CoV-2.

The outbreak has also drawn attention to zoonotic diseases — infections that spread from animals to humans — and highlighted the importance of staying prepared as global travel and human-animal interactions increase. At the same time, WHO and other health agencies have stressed that stronger surveillance, quicker reporting, testing systems, and coordination between countries are helping health authorities respond effectively.

Published – May 10, 2026 03:34 am IST

The recent outbreak of hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship has raised significant health concerns, as three individuals have reportedly died.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed two cases of the deadly hantavirus, and five more are suspected among people who were on a luxury cruise ship now held in the Atlantic near Cape Verde. The three fatalities were a Dutch couple and ‌a German national, and a British national was evacuated from the ship from Ascension and is being treated in South Africa, officials have said.

Here’s what we know so far about the deadly outbreak in MV Hondius cruise ship.

What is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a viral infection primarily associated with rodent excreta, urine, and saliva, and it can lead to severe, potentially fatal illnesses, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which can cause respiratory issues and other serious health complications. Hantaviruses are found globally, with occurrences in various regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

How did it spread in the Atlantic cruise ship?

First reported case

The MV Hondius departed from southern Argentina on April 1, 2026. On April 6, a 70-year-old Dutch man experienced symptoms including fever, headache, and mild diarrhoea, as reported by the WHO.

He passed away on April 11 after developing respiratory distress while the ship was situated between the British island territories of South Georgia and St. Helena in the South Atlantic, according to data from the ship tracking site MarineTraffic. Oceanwide Expeditions, the cruise company, stated that the cause of death could not be identified.

From our archives: Emerging pathogens: what does the future hold?

Outbreak and subsequent deaths

The ship continued its journey for nearly two weeks, making a stop near Tristan da Cunha before arriving at St. Helena, where the Dutch man’s body was removed from the ship on April 24. His 69-year-old wife accompanied the body and flew to South Africa, but she began to exhibit symptoms as well and fell seriously ill during the flight on April 25, collapsing at an airport in South Africa. She died in a hospital on April 26, according to the WHO.

The third fatality, a German woman, died on the ship, again after it had set sail for a new destination — this time Cape Verde. She died four days after falling ill and also had signs of pneumonia, WHO said, which can be caused by hantavirus. Her body is still on the ship.

Another passenger, a British man, became sick on the ship after it left St. Helena and sailed to tiny Ascension Island. He had a high fever, shortness of breath and signs of pneumonia, according to WHO, and was evacuated from Ascension Island to South Africa on April 27. He is in an intensive care unit in a South African hospital.

WHO investigation

On Sunday (May 3), the WHO announced it was investigating the suspected hantavirus outbreak on the ship, which had by that time reached Cape Verde waters.

The British man’s positive test prompted South African health authorities to also test the Dutch woman’s body posthumously for hantavirus. That test came back positive on Monday.

WHO said the outbreak on the ship was being managed and the global risk was low as hantavirus is not easily spread between people, though it added it was tracing people who were on a passenger plane between St. Helena and Johannesburg, South Africa, with the Dutch woman.

Passengers and crew have been isolated in cabins with “maximal physical distancing,” WHO said, in a lockdown reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHO says it is still investigating how a virus that is relatively rare in people got on board the ship. It said the Dutch man and his wife — whom it called cases one and two — had travelled in Argentina and elsewhere in South America before they boarded.

Hantavirus: signs and symtpoms

The infection leads to flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, appearing 1 to 8 weeks after exposure. This is followed by a severe respiratory phase marked by shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness, which can quickly progress to acute respiratory distress and potentially life-threatening situations if timely medical treatment is not received.

Treatments for Hantavirus

At present, there is no vaccine or targeted antiviral treatments available for hantavirus infections. Management involves supportive care tailored to the symptoms, which may include hospitalisation and respiratory assistance.

However, early detection and immediate medical attention are crucial for preventing severe respiratory distress. Preventive methods through rodent control and adherence to proper sanitation protocols is also crucial.

(With AP and Reuters inputs)

Published – May 06, 2026 02:32 pm IST

The Hondius Cruise ship is anchored at a port in Praia, Cape Verde, on May 4, 2026
| Photo Credit: AP

An archive image of the cruise ship Hondius, in Vlissingen, Netherlands
| Photo Credit: via Reuters