Andes hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship MV Hondius confirmed as known strain

The French Pasteur Institute fully sequenced the hantavirus detected on the cruise vessel MV Hondius and found it to be the Andes virus strain already known from South America. The analysis showed no mutations that would increase transmissibility or severity, and French health minister Stéphanie Rist stated there is currently no evidence of new hazardous properties.

The World Health Organization reported ten cases linked to the outbreak, with eight laboratory‑confirmed infections. Authorities emphasise continued monitoring, rapid infection‑control measures, and integration of such genomic data into early‑warning systems for future incidents on ships and other closed environments.