Amid concerns over a hantavirus outbreak linked to an international cruise ship, the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) on Friday said there is “no immediate public health threat” to India.
The clarification came after reports that two Indian nationals aboard the vessel had tested positive for the virus and were under observation.
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Two Indian crew members are on board the MV Hondius cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has killed three people.
— India Today Global (@ITGGlobal) May 8, 2026
WHO says the Andes strain spreads differently from Covid-19 and the overall public risk remains low, even as global contact tracing and… pic.twitter.com/pksRx61TdZ
Cruise ship scare prompts India health clarification
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Dr. Naveen Kumar, Director of the ICMR-NIV, said the reported infections appeared to be isolated cases and that there was no evidence of community transmission in India at present.
According to officials, the infected Indian passengers are asymptomatic and are being monitored under international health protocols.
GOOD NEWS:
— Merlijn The Trader (@MerlijnTrader) May 8, 2026
Two viruses. Two very different situations.
COVID: spreads human to human. Became a global pandemic.
Hantavirus: does not spread human to human. 5 confirmed cases.
Mortality rate of Hantavirus is 40%.
But you can only get it from infected rodents.
The WHO… pic.twitter.com/pyFf0cf7xX
Experts explain how hantavirus spreads
“Hantaviruses are mainly transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents or their excreta such as saliva, urine, and feces," Kumar told PTI.
He added that infections generally occur after inhalation of aerosolized viral particles in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas, including ships, warehouses, and storage spaces. “The reported hantavirus cases appear to be isolated ones, and there is no immediate public health threat to India,” he said.
Health authorities and the World Health Organization are continuing contact tracing efforts linked to the outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. WHO has said the overall public risk remains low and stressed that hantavirus transmission between humans is extremely uncommon, except in limited cases involving certain South American strains such as the Andes virus.
India says no domestic cases detected so far
The Union Health Ministry said India has not detected any hantavirus cases on its soil so far and is closely monitoring developments. Officials also highlighted that the country has an established disease surveillance and diagnostic network capable of testing for hantavirus infections.
