Andes hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship kills three, dozens monitored

An outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus has been identified on a cruise ship that departed from Argentina on April 1. Eight cases have been laboratory‑confirmed, including two possible infections, and three passengers have died – a 70‑year‑old Dutch passenger and two others diagnosed with Andes virus. The World Health Organization says the risk to passengers and crew remains moderate, but the broader public risk is low because the virus rarely spreads person‑to‑person.

More than 120 passengers and crew have been evacuated for quarantine, and health authorities in the United States are monitoring 41 people who may have been exposed. One American patient was placed in a biocontainment unit before being cleared for standard quarantine. The WHO recommends a 42‑day quarantine for all on board.

The outbreak underscores the limited treatment options for hantavirus infections, as there is no vaccine or specific therapy available.