Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship MV Hondius kills three; US case in Colorado prompts CDC action

An outbreak of Andes hantavirus aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries, resulted in three deaths and eight confirmed plus two suspected cases, leading the World Health Organization to issue an international health alert. The ship docked in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where authorities began tracing passengers.

Separately, an adult in Douglas County, Colorado, died from hantavirus infection, a case that health officials say is unrelated to the cruise‑ship outbreak. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced heightened screening of travelers from affected areas, increased contact‑tracing efforts and readiness measures for hospitals, while stressing that the overall risk to the public remains low.