MV Hondius passengers cleared to leave quarantine after hantavirus outbreak

A hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch‑flagged cruise ship MV Hondius resulted in 12 confirmed cases, one probable case and three deaths. The vessel left Ushuaia, Argentina on 1 April, called at remote islands in the South Atlantic, then proceeded toward the Cape Verde and Canary Islands, where remaining passengers were evacuated. The ship docked in Rotterdam, Netherlands on 18 May and the crew and passengers were placed under quarantine.

Since 2 May no new cases or deaths have been reported. World Health Organization Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on X that almost all passengers and crew, including non‑nationals, may now return home. The ship received permission to resume sailing on 30 May after cleaning and disinfection. On 8 June the British overseas territory of St. Helena declared the end of the emergency, confirming that all identified contacts completed a 42‑day isolation and that the virus no longer poses a risk to the island’s population. The hantavirus strain involved is the Andes variant, the only known strain that can spread from human to human, and there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment.