WHO declares hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship MV Hondius over

The World Health Organization announced that the hantavirus episode linked to the Dutch‑flagged cruise ship MV Hondius has ended. The WHO director‑general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the last person who had been in contact with a confirmed case completed a quarantine period, tested negative and returned home.

No new cases have been recorded since 25 May. The outbreak involved 13 confirmed infections, three of which were fatal. Health authorities identified and monitored more than 650 close contacts across 33 countries. The organisation will continue collaborating with national governments and a 21‑country research project to study the Andes hantavirus strain, which is the only known variant capable of human‑to‑human transmission.

The MV Hondius departed from Ouessant on 1 April, stopped in the Canary Islands (Spain) to disembark over 120 passengers, and later anchored in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where the crew entered quarantine. Two deaths occurred on board – an Dutch passenger and a German passenger – with a third death linked to a passenger’s spouse in South Africa. The source of the outbreak remains undetermined despite the passenger’s recent travel in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.