Global Health Authorities Race to Track Passengers After Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship

International Alert Issued Following Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Vessel

Health authorities in more than a dozen countries are engaged in an urgent race to locate and monitor passengers who disembarked from the cruise ship MV Hondius before an outbreak of hantavirus was identified onboard. The World Health Organization has confirmed at least five cases of the disease, with three of those resulting in death.

The Dutch vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, is at the center of what the WHO has described as the first known instance of hantavirus transmission occurring aboard a ship.

What We Know About the Outbreak

The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 and is expected to reach Spain's Canary Islands on May 10. According to Oceanwide Expeditions, approximately 114 guests and 61 crew members from 22 countries were aboard the vessel at various points during the voyage. However, 32 guests left the ship at the island of St Helena on April 24 — before the first confirmed case was reported on May 4.

The WHO has clarified that this outbreak does not carry the same pandemic risk as COVID-19 did six years ago. Unlike airborne viruses, this particular hantavirus strain — known as the Andes strain — is transmitted only through close, intimate contact between individuals. That said, health officials warn that the incubation period can extend up to six weeks, meaning additional cases could still emerge in the coming weeks.

Hantavirus typically originates in rodents and is contracted when humans breathe in air contaminated with viral particles found in rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. The Andes strain is notable for being one of the rare variants capable of spreading from person to person, though such transmission remains uncommon.

Investigators believe the infection may have originated before passengers boarded the ship. A Dutch couple at the center of the outbreak reportedly visited areas in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay — regions known to harbor the species of rat associated with the Andes strain — prior to the April 1 departure. The Argentine government is currently investigating whether the infections originated within its borders.

Countries Monitoring Affected Individuals

The WHO has confirmed it is coordinating with health officials in at least 12 countries who are actively tracking individuals connected to the voyage. Those nations include Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Oceanwide Expeditions published a detailed timeline on Friday outlining when guests and crew departed the ship at various ports throughout the journey.

United Kingdom

Three British nationals have suspected cases of hantavirus. Among the confirmed cases is Martin Anstee, a 56-year-old retired police officer, who is currently in stable condition at a hospital in the Netherlands after being evacuated from the vessel on Wednesday. A second British man remains in intensive care after being airlifted to South Africa the previous month.

Seven British passengers disembarked at St Helena on April 24, with four remaining on the island. One crew member — a British national — is currently on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the ship made a stop on April 13. Two additional UK nationals are self-isolating voluntarily at home after potential exposure, though neither is displaying symptoms. In total, 19 guests and three crew members from the UK are currently aboard the MV Hondius.

United States

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has categorized this outbreak as a Level 3 emergency response — its lowest tier of alert. Health agencies across five states, including Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Virginia, and California, are monitoring individuals who were aboard the ship. None are currently showing symptoms. Seventeen US guests remain on the vessel.

France

The French Ministry of Health has identified eight French nationals who came into contact with the Dutch woman who died from hantavirus during her flight from St Helena to Johannesburg.

Cape Verde

The MV Hondius was denied permission to dock in the West African island nation of Cape Verde. The ship remained anchored off its coast for several days before setting course for the Canary Islands on Wednesday.

Expert Concerns Over Response Coordination

Despite the broad international response, at least one expert has raised concerns about the handling of the outbreak. Speaking to the BBC, they described the response as "highly chaotic and uncoordinated," though they also emphasized that the general risk to the wider public remains low given the specific transmission requirements of the Andes strain.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the vessel makes its way toward the Canary Islands, with health teams expected to be deployed to affected islands to provide additional medical support.