Request for information (RFI): Hantavirus cases reported on a cruise ship from Argentina; three deaths and multiple cases - BEACON
Johannesburg, South AfricaConfidence 95%6 affectedToday
A BEACON report details a hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, with three passenger deaths, one British citizen in intensive care in South Africa, and one confirmed plus five suspected cases among passengers and crew.
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- PrimaryRequest for information (RFI): Hantavirus cases reported on a cruise ship from Argentina; three deaths and multiple cases - BEACON
beacon.org · 2026-06-01
A BEACON report from May 3, 2026, detailed the early stages of the MV Hondius cruise ship hantavirus outbreak. Three passengers had died, and one British citizen was in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa. The ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina. The WHO confirmed one laboratory-confirmed hantavirus case and five additional suspected cases among passengers and crew. The report also noted that Argentina had 86 confirmed hantavirus cases in 2025 with a 33% case fatality rate, and the central region (Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, and Entre Ríos) was in outbreak status during the 2025–2026 season.
- ReferencePublic Health Alerts: Andes hantavirus outbreak in cruise ship
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-01
A detailed Public Health Alerts report on May 20, 2026, provided information on 10 of the 11 cases of Andes hantavirus infection among passengers of the MV Hondius cruise ship. Three of these 10 patients died, and two of the other seven remain hospitalized after infection with the Andes strain of the virus (ANDV), which is the only hantavirus strain known to transmit among people. The index patient, a Dutch ornithologist, first had symptoms on April 6 and died on board the ship on April 11. His wife, described as patient 2, became ill on April 24 and died two days later. Patient 3 first exper
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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.