A hantavirus outbreak linked to the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius has expanded to nine confirmed cases, with health authorities warning that the number may rise in the coming weeks. The situation is being closely tracked across multiple countries as passengers and crew begin returning home.
Around 150 passengers and crew members have started flying back from Spain’s Canary Islands on military and government-arranged flights. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised a 42-day quarantine period, along with daily symptom checks such as monitoring body temperature.
The guidance, however, is not mandatory. Travellers have been allowed to isolate either at home or in designated facilities, depending on national protocols. This has raised concerns among some experts about whether individuals will adhere to the full six-week isolation period.
India has confirmed that two of its crew members were evacuated to the Netherlands. Both are currently in quarantine and remain asymptomatic.
Countries reporting cases and contacts
Health officials have identified confirmed cases, suspected infections, and high-risk contacts across several regions.
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In the United States, one case has been confirmed while another remains under investigation, with multiple passengers under monitoring in states including Nebraska and Georgia. France has reported one severe case, with the patient said to be on life support, along with several contacts under observation.
The Netherlands has recorded multiple cases, including a Dutch couple who died. The United Kingdom has also reported affected passengers, while countries such as Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and South Africa are tracking individuals who were on board.
With travellers from more than 20 countries on the ship, authorities are carrying out extensive contact tracing.
Fatalities and WHO assessment
Three deaths have been reported so far, involving two Dutch passengers and a German national.
World Health Organisation Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said the outbreak is “not another Covid” and emphasised that the overall public health risk remains low.
Why may more cases emerge
Health experts expect additional infections due to the virus’s incubation period, which can extend from six to eight weeks. Close interactions among passengers before preventive steps were introduced may have contributed to further exposure.
While hantavirus is usually transmitted through contact with infected rodents, this cluster has drawn attention to the Andes strain, which can spread between people in rare cases involving prolonged close contact.
What the public should know
Authorities continue to stress that the wider risk remains limited. Unlike airborne viruses, hantavirus does not spread easily and typically requires direct exposure or sustained close contact.
Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, and, in difficult situations, breathing difficulty. Individuals linked to the ship have been advised to monitor their health and seek medical care if symptoms appear.
The MV Hondius is expected to undergo full sanitisation in Rotterdam as countries continue managing quarantine and monitoring protocols for returning travellers.
