Andes hantavirus update - by Robert Herriman - Outbreak News Today
Read original atoutbreaknewstoday.substack.com
Tenerife, SpainConfidence 95%Jun 1, 2026
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the public in Tenerife, Spain, regarding the hantavirus situation on the MV Hondius cruise ship, reassuring them of low public health risk and detailing Spain's disembarkation and repatriation plan.
Species mentioned
- human
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- PrimaryAndes hantavirus update - by Robert Herriman - Outbreak News Today
outbreaknewstoday.substack.com · 2026-06-01
On May 9, 2026, the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the people of Tenerife, Spain, regarding the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship. He reassured the public that the current public health risk from hantavirus remains low and that there are no symptomatic passengers currently on board. Spain's authorities have prepared a plan for passengers to disembark at the industrial port of Granadilla, far from residential areas, and be repatriated directly to their home countries. This measure is part of the coordinated international response to contain the outbre
- ReferenceWHO warns of hantavirus on cruise ship, with 3 dead, 3 others sickened | CIDRAP
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-01
CIDRAP reported on May 4, 2026, that the WHO warned of a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, with three deaths and three others sickened. One case was lab-confirmed, and five were suspected. The ship was traveling between Argentina and the Canary Islands, anchored near Cape Verde.
- ReferenceMedical epidemiologist explains what to know about the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak
pbs.org · 2026-05-09
On May 9, 2026, a medical epidemiologist provided insights into the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, as reported by The Conversation and curated by WBUR. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the outbreak on May 4, with an initial count of 7 infections and 3 deaths, followed by an eighth confirmed case on May 6. The confirmed strain was the Andes virus, a New World hantavirus known for affecting the lungs and having a high fatality rate of approximately 40%. In contrast, Old World hantaviruses, typically found in Europe and Asia, primarily affect the kidneys and have
- ReferenceMV Hondius hantavirus outbreak - Wikipedia
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-01
An outbreak of Andes virus, a hantavirus, was identified on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius in April 2026. As of May 22, there were ten confirmed and two suspected cases directly linked to the outbreak, with three deaths. The Andes virus is the only known hantavirus capable of human-to-human transmission, typically through close, sustained contact. Passengers were repatriated to various countries for quarantine, including six European nations. The ship made stops in Antarctica, South Georgia Island, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, Ascension Island, Praia (Cape Verde), and Tenerife (Canary Isl
- ReferenceHantavirus outbreak linked to cruise ship travel, Multi-locations
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-01
The World Health Organization (WHO) provided an update on the Andes hantavirus outbreak linked to the M/V Hondius cruise ship, reporting a total of 13 cases (eleven confirmed and two probable) and three deaths as of May 27, 2026. Since the previous report, three additional confirmed cases were identified from Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain. The outbreak began with a cluster of severe acute respiratory illness cases aboard the Netherlands-flagged cruise ship. Passengers had disembarked in various locations, including Saint Helena (United Kingdom), Ascension (United Kingdom), Praia (Cabo Ve
- ReferenceHantavirus latest: CDC gives update on outbreak linked to cruise ship | LiveNOW from FOX
livenowfox.com · 2026-06-01
LiveNOW from FOX reported on May 8, 2026, that the CDC provided an update on the deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The outbreak has been linked to at least three deaths and several reported cases, but the risk to the U.S. public remains 'extremely low.' U.S. health officials are coordinating the evacuation and monitoring of American passengers, including medical repatriation to Nebraska and deployment of CDC response teams to the Canary Islands and Offutt Air Force Base.
- ReferenceCDC Provides Update on Hantavirus Outbreak Linked to M/V Hondius Cruise Ship
cdc.gov · 2026-06-02
The U.S. government is actively monitoring and responding to a hantavirus outbreak linked to the M/V Hondius cruise ship, with the CDC developing health guidance for impacted American passengers. As of May 8, 2026, the risk to the American public remains extremely low. A CDC team was deployed to the Canary Islands to conduct exposure risk assessments for American passengers, with some repatriated to a biocontainment unit in Nebraska.
- ReferenceAt least 8 sickened in suspected hantavirus outbreak; Andes strain confirmed - CIDRAP
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-02
An hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship has sickened at least eight passengers, with three fatalities. Three ill passengers were airlifted to the Netherlands, and the ship is heading to the Canary Islands, Spain. A patient who disembarked in late April and returned to Switzerland is hospitalized with confirmed Andes strain hantavirus. WHO assesses the risk to the general population as very low.
- ReferenceCDC Alerts Clinicians About Potential for Imported Hantavirus Cases
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-02
The CDC issued a Health Alert Network advisory on May 12, 2026, urging clinicians to be aware of potential imported hantavirus cases related to the Andes virus outbreak on a cruise ship. While broad spread in the U.S. is unlikely, early symptoms can mimic flu. The advisory recommends infection control precautions and testing for other illnesses. American passengers from the cruise ship were to be repatriated after docking in the Canary Islands.
- ReferenceHantavirus Outbreak Spreads to France, US; WHO Reacts | Spotlight | N18G - YouTube
youtube.com · 2026-06-02
This news report highlights the global health response to the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak, with confirmed cases in US and French nationals following evacuation from Spain's Canary Islands. The Andes strain, capable of human-to-human transmission, is involved. Countries like Britain, Australia, Greece, and France initiated quarantine and contact tracing. WHO advised a 42-day monitoring period, emphasizing low global public health risk due to the virus's limited spread.
- ReferenceWHO warns of hantavirus on cruise ship, with 3 dead, 3 others sickened | CIDRAP
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-02
On May 4, 2026, the WHO warned of a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, with 3 deaths and 3 others sickened. One case was laboratory-confirmed at that time, with five additional suspected cases. The ship was traveling between Argentina and the Canary Islands.
- ReferenceDutch health officials clear hantavirus ship to sail again - CTV News
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-02
The MV Hondius cruise ship, which was at the center of a global health alert due to a deadly hantavirus outbreak, was cleared to resume operations on May 30, 2026. This decision by Dutch public health officials in Rotterdam followed a thorough cleaning and disinfection process. Infection control experts confirmed that the ship had been effectively cleaned and disinfected according to established guidelines. The vessel's owner, Oceanwide Expeditions, announced that the Hondius is scheduled to recommence its cruise schedule from June 13. The outbreak led to three passenger deaths and 13 confir
- ReferenceAfrica CDC on alert as hantavirus infections trigger int'l response - Xinhua
english.news.cn · 2026-05-06
The Africa CDC is monitoring a cluster of hantavirus infections linked to an international cruise ship (MV Hondius) that departed Argentina for the Canary Islands via Cabo Verde. As of May 6, seven cases (two confirmed) and three fatalities were reported, with one patient in critical condition in South Africa. The incident prompted a coordinated international response involving Cabo Verde, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, and Britain. While hantaviruses are not typically human-to-human transmissible, the clustering on the ship warrants vigilance.
- ReferenceNew suspected hantavirus cases found as experts issue containment guidance - National | Globalnews.ca
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-03
Globalnews.ca reported on May 8, 2026, that two suspected hantavirus cases were identified, one in Spain and another on Tristan da Cunha. Consular officials were en route to the Canary Islands to meet four Canadians from the MV Hondius. Three Canadians with connections to the cruise were isolating at home in Ontario and Quebec, asymptomatic. The WHO is developing operational guidance for safe disembarkation and onward travel, and has arranged for 2,500 diagnostic kits from Argentina to be sent to laboratories in five countries to boost testing capacity. Experts believe the outbreak can be man
- ReferenceExperimental hantavirus drug ships to Europe as US passengers offered home quarantine
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-03
On May 29, 2026, emergency shipments of the experimental antiviral drug favipiravir were sent to France, the Netherlands, and Spain to treat hantavirus patients from the MV Hondius cruise ship or for clinical trials. Fujifilm Pharmaceuticals donated 1,400 tablets, as no approved drugs or vaccines currently exist for hantavirus. Individual EU member states will decide on the drug's use, and the European Commission is procuring additional doses. In the US, 18 American passengers exposed to the Andes hantavirus on the cruise ship were offered home quarantine from June 1, provided their states ar
- ReferenceAt least 8 sickened in suspected hantavirus outbreak; Andes strain confirmed
cidrap.umn.edu · 2026-06-03
An hantavirus outbreak aboard a Dutch cruise ship, MV Hondius, has sickened at least eight passengers, including three who died. The World Health Organization confirmed the Andes strain, known for rare human-to-human transmission, in a patient hospitalized in Switzerland after leaving the ship. Three ill passengers were airlifted to the Netherlands for medical care, and the ship is now heading to the Canary Islands, where healthy individuals will be able to deboard.
Reminder
This report is an aggregated summary of public information for surveillance and awareness purposes only. It is not medical advice. For symptoms, exposure, or clinical decisions, contact a qualified clinician or your local public-health authority.