Hantavirus outbreak kills three aboard cruise ship MV Hondius, WHO coordinates evacuation

A hantavirus outbreak struck the Dutch‑flagged cruise ship MV Hondius as it sailed from Argentina in early April. The vessel carried about 150 passengers and crew from more than 20 nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Philippines, Germany, France and the Netherlands. Health officials identified the Andes virus strain, which can spread person‑to‑person, and confirmed 11 cases – nine laboratory‑confirmed – with three fatalities.

The likely source was a couple who visited a landfill near Ushuaia, Argentina, where infected rodents were present. The World Health Organization, led by Director‑General Tedros Adhanom, oversaw an evacuation in Tenerife, Spain, moving 94 passengers to quarantine facilities and arranging flights for remaining nationals. Several countries imposed 72‑hour observation or home monitoring for returning travelers; a French passenger developed symptoms on a flight to Paris, and a U.S. citizen tested weakly positive.

With 26 crew members still aboard, the ship departed for Rotterdam for thorough cleaning and disinfection. Experts stress that, while deadly, the outbreak poses a low risk of a broader pandemic.