WHO declares hantavirus outbreak on cruise MV Hondius over

The World Health Organization announced that the hantavirus outbreak linked to the Dutch‑flagged cruise ship MV Hondius is officially over. The declaration followed the completion of quarantine by the last identified contact, who tested negative and returned home. The outbreak affected 13 people and caused three deaths. Over 650 contacts were identified and monitored by health authorities in 33 countries and territories.

The cruise departed Ushuaia, Argentina on 1 April, sailing across the South Atlantic before being diverted to Tenerife, Spain, and later to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where the ship was disinfected and cleared to resume service. The WHO will continue a coordinated study involving 21 countries to improve diagnostics, treatments and vaccines for hantavirus and reiterated that the virus remains a public‑health threat in South America and other endemic regions.

Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked the governments of Argentina, Cape Verde, Chile, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Spain for their cooperation during the response.