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@michaelcoston, thanks for this. In the dutch paper it is specified as "De patiënt is eerder aan boord geweest van het Nederlandse cruiseschip MV Hondius" The patient has been on board of the dutch cruiseschip MV Hondius. Apparently more people have already left the ship in April than we know so far, some if which are infected....
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WHO Statement on 8th Hantavirus Case Now Hospitalized in Zurich
#19,144
While I was tacking down and blogging the statement from the Swiss Authorities the World Health Organization posted their own statement on Twitter/X.
In this statement, the WHO also acknowledges the identification of the Andes Virus, and states it is working with relevant countries to support international contact tracing of possible cases.
This screenshot was posted shortly after 5am EST.
https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2026/...irus-case.htmlAll medical discussions are for educational purposes. I am not a doctor, just a retired paramedic. Nothing I post should be construed as specific medical advice. If you have a medical problem, see your physician.Comment
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Also article states some locals of St Helena are self isolating as a precaution. https://www.euronews.com/health/2026...uise-line-says
"The only security we have is our ability to adapt."Comment
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World Health Organization (WHO) reposted
35m
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
@DrTedros
Three suspected #hantavirus case patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands in coordination with
@WHO , the ship’s operator and national authorities from Cabo Verde, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. WHO continues to work with the ship’s operators to closely monitor the health of passengers and crew, working with countries to support appropriate medical follow-up and evacuation where needed. Monitoring and follow-up for passengers on board and for those who have already disembarked has been initiated in collaboration with the ship’s operators and national health authorities. WHO thanks all those involved. At this stage, the overall public health risk remains low.
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I am not sure if this is relevant, but this province in Argentina has Andes variant and the timing is just before (symptoms) or after (death) the cruise ship left from Ushuaia. Sequence comparison is warranted here I guess. It was a familial cluster.
Hantavirus-related death in a 15-year-old patient in Chubut Province, Argentina; third case in a family cluster - BEACON
In the hospital where the girl was treated there is now a strong pressure on the ICU, mainly by normal infectious diseases, no hantavirus specified
Crisis sanitaria en la cordillera: Hospital de Esquel sin camas de terapia y con derivaciones en marcha | InfoCordilleraComment
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Screenshots:
5:34 AM · May 6, 2026
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7:25 AM · May 6, 2026Comment
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5 May 2026
Update On Hantavirus Linked To MV Hondius
The public is advised that the Health and Social Care (HSC) Portfolio continues to respond to the hantavirus situation linked to the expedition vessel MV Hondius, which visited St Helena from 22 to 24 April 2026. We are working closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and international partners to assess and manage the situation.
Globally, there have been three deaths reported, two of which have been confirmed as infected with hantavirus. There are a further four people with suspected hantavirus infection around the world, all of whom remain in a stable condition. Definitive information on the specific type of hantavirus associated with this incident is awaited from our international partners.
On St Helena, there are currently no people with suspected hantavirus infection. All higher risk contacts identified to date have received daily verbal contact from a doctor, including instruction on the need to self-isolate at home. People living in the same household as higher risk contacts do not need to self-isolate. All lower risk contacts have been issued with an information letter and actions to take should they develop symptoms.
Further written guidance for those in isolation is being developed in partnership with experts at the UKHSA and will be issued tomorrow, 6 May. This includes information on the necessary period for isolation. Additional support for those in isolation is being coordinated by HSC.
The risk to the wider community remains low. Everyday social contact, for example in shops, workplaces, schools or public spaces, is not considered a known risk for spreading hantavirus. In the rare instances of person-to-person spread, the main risk is close and prolonged contact with someone who is unwell.
New Hantavirus Screening Line
If you had close contact with passengers or crew, or boarded the MV Hondius during its visit, please call the new Hantavirus Screening Line on Tele No: 25949 if you develop symptoms or are worried you may have been exposed.
Possible symptoms include:- fatigue, fever and muscle aches
- headache, dizziness and chills
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain
- later, symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Please do not attend the hospital in person without first being screened by telephone. This helps protect patients, staff and the wider public by ensuring the right clinical advice and infection prevention measures are in place before any face-to-face assessment.
People who have not had any contact with the passengers or crew and have not boarded the MV Hondius should seek healthcare in the usual way if required.
Following the screening call, a clinician will review the information provided. If a face-to-face assessment is needed, the ambulance service will attend to assess the person safely and arrange further care. This reduces the risk of anyone who may be infectious attending the hospital without the correct precautions in place.
In a medical emergency, including severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, collapse or serious deterioration, call 999 immediately and tell the call handler that you may have had contact linked to the MV Hondius.
The public are thanked for their continued support and cooperation. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
#StHelena Hantavirus #MVHondius
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt
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6 May 2026
Hantavirus Strain Confirmed
As we continue to respond to the hantavirus incident, tests performed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa have indicated that the Andes virus is the underlying cause.
This is the only known variant capable of human-to-human spread. The risk to the wider population remains low and transmission requires prolonged close personal contact.
This does not affect our planning or response, which has been based on this assumption from the outset.
As we have indicated previously, we are acting from an abundance of caution and will continue to do so.
Please continue to follow the public health advice. A more detailed update will be issued later today and then daily thereafter.
Thank you for your continued co-operation.
#StHelena Hantavirus #MVHondius
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt
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Press update | m/v Hondius: 6 May 2026, 14:45 hrs CET
by Oceanwide Expeditions News 06.05.2026
6 May 2026, 14:45 hrs CET
We can confirm that the three individuals previously indicated as awaiting medical transfer have been successfully disembarked from m/v Hondius and are now en route via medicalized aircraft to locations able to provide specialized care and appropriate medical screening. Two of the individuals remain in a serious condition. The third, while currently asymptomatic, was closely associated with the individual who passed away on board on 2 May 2026. The two symptomatic individuals have not tested positive for hantavirus at this time.
In partnership with the RIVM (Dutch Institute for Public Health and Environment), Oceanwide Expeditions is expanding medical care on board with two infectious disease physicians, arriving today by plane from the Netherlands. This ensures that optimal medical care can be provided if necessary, during the next stage of this evolving situation.
At this stage, the planned onward destination for m/v Hondius is the Canary Islands. Oceanwide Expeditions remains in close and continual discussion with relevant authorities regarding the exact point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and a precise timeline. We are unable to confirm the details of onward travel for guests at this stage. This is dependent on medical advice and the outcome of stringent screening procedures. Close cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has confirmed that a passenger who traveled on the first leg of the voyage (Ushuaia to St Helena, 1–24 April 2026) has tested positive for hantavirus and is currently being treated at the University Hospital Zurich. His wife, who accompanied him, has not shown symptoms but is self-isolating as a precaution. Oceanwide Expeditions is in contact with the relevant authorities regarding this development. All guests present on this voyage have been contacted by Oceanwide Expeditions.
This brings the total number of confirmed hantavirus cases associated with this voyage to three:- On 26 April, after their planned disembarkation, a guest passed away during their transit home. A variant of hantavirus has been identified in this patient.
- On 27 April, a passenger became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa. This person is currently being treated in the intensive care unit in Johannesburg and is in a critical but stable condition. This passenger is of British nationality. A variant of hantavirus has been identified in this patient.
- On 6 May, FOPH confirmed that a passenger who travelled on the first leg of the voyage has tested positive for hantavirus and is currently being treated at the University Hospital Zurich.
All media inquiries should be directed to: Mrs. Kiki Hirschfeldt: kiki@coebergh.nl
For all other matters, we refer to our previous press updates. The unchanged list of previous official communications is as follows:
6 May 2026, 11:00 hrs CET
5 May 2026 19:15 hrs CET
5 May 2026, 17:00 CET
4 May 2026, 23:30 CET
https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/press-update-updated-timeline-of-the-medical-situation-on-board-m-v-hondius
4 May 2026, 13:30 PM CET
3 May 2026, 3:00 hrs CET
https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/bl...-11-00-hrs-cetComment
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Cape Verde MoH:
Translation Google
Ministry of Health's Post
Ministry of Health
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**The three patients who were on board the ship MV Hondius have now been evacuated.**
The operation took place this Wednesday morning, involving a large team and a robust security apparatus.
It consisted of removing the three patients from the ship, safely transporting them in two ambulances to Nelson Mandela International Airport, and boarding them onto two air ambulances. **The two planes departed around 11:00 AM, carrying specialized medical teams on board.**
In a statement to the press, the National Director of Health, Angela Gomes, said that the Ministry of Health—acting as the **health authority**—fulfilled its mission in accordance with the International Health Regulations. She added that, as a **Cabo Verdean nation**, the country also fulfilled its duty—specifically, to provide a response to an emergency situation that demanded a high level of security rigor, and, with the utmost responsibility, to protect its population. “That is precisely what we have just concluded. The three patients who were on board the ship have now been evacuated with the utmost safety, following procedures meticulously outlined by the health-coordinated teams, in conjunction with other maritime and airport authorities. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and were handed over to medical teams aboard two air ambulances.”
The destination for the three patients is the Netherlands; the British patient will certainly proceed to his country of origin as his final destination.
Angela Gomes further reported that the country has ensured full assistance to the ship from the very first moment—on Sunday—when they received the notification. She stated that teams were assembled and an action plan was devised to respond with the utmost responsibility: ensuring care for the patients on board while maintaining a level of safety that would not place the national territory at risk.
In this regard, it was possible to keep the patients stable, provide full clinical support, and also attend to all other occupants from psychological and emotional perspectives—among other needs—taking into account that they have already spent several days on board the ship, she highlighted.
She noted that, based on a risk assessment, the country made the decision not to authorize the ship to dock; however, it was also decided that care could not be withheld—a commitment which, according to her, was fulfilled thanks to a team of professionals specifically deployed for this purpose. Regarding the ship, it was reported that a formal notice has already been issued stating that, with this phase concluded, the vessel is—from a sanitary standpoint—now cleared to resume its voyage.
The operation was coordinated by the sanitary, maritime, and airport authorities of Cabo Verde, with the support of the World Health Organization and the embassies of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
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https://www.facebook.com/ministerios...JkjheC3QpmTnslComment
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Press release
Foreign Secretary's statement: Hantavirus outbreak, 6 May 2026
A statement from the Foreign Secretary on the Hantavirus outbreak
From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Published 6 May 2026
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
The outbreak of Hantavirus is very serious and deeply stressful for those affected and their families. The UK response is being led by the UK Health Security Agency working with the WHO.
The Foreign Office is working urgently to support the UKHSA’s work overseas and to make sure British nationals on the MV Hondius can all get safely home with proper protection for public health.
Foreign Office consular staff are in direct contact with British nationals onboard the ship and stand ready to provide further assistance to any British national in need of support overseas 24/7 - our crisis response centre has been operating for the last few days to provide support. Ministers are in close touch with our Dutch and Spanish counterparts and we have been working with other countries to facilitate the medical evacuations, to support our Overseas Territories and to get British nationals home safely as quickly as possible.
Background Information:- Overseas Territories we are supporting:
- South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands
- Tristan da Cunha
- St Helena
- Ascension Island
- British Nationals requiring consular assistance can contact the FCDO on +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
- The risk to the UK population is very low and there is no need for concern among the general public. Hantaviruses are very rarely transmitted from person to person.
- UK Health Security Agency has a page explaining what hantavirus is, how it is transmitted and the symptoms.
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- Overseas Territories we are supporting:
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Hantavirus update: Andes strain confirmed
6 May 2026
Government, Press Release
The Ascension Island Government (AIG) and Georgetown Hospital advise that tests
conducted by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa have
confirmed the Andes strain of hantavirus is linked to the expedition vessel, MV Hondius.
This is the only known variant capable of human-to-human spread. The risk to the
wider population remains low and transmission requires prolonged close personal
contact.
This does not affect our planning or response, which has been based on this
assumption from the outset.
There are currently no symptomatic cases on Ascension Island.
All who may be at risk of exposure are being closely monitored in accordance with
advice and regular consultation from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The
current advice is to self-monitor for symptoms of illness. These include fever of above
37.5°C, fatigue or malaise, coughing, and diarrhoea.
Anyone who develops symptoms is asked to contact the hospital by telephone on
66252 before seeking care.
Georgetown Hospital Healthcare Services
Normal outpatient clinical services have been suspended as a precautionary
measure. However, the public is advised that anyone requiring urgent medical
treatment will be attended to. Hospital staff will be wearing appropriate personal
protective equipment (PPE) as a precaution. This is standard practice, and patients
should not be alarmed.
The risk to the wider community remains low. Transmission of hantavirus is not
associated with everyday social contact.
AIG thanks the public for their cooperation. Further updates will be provided as new
information becomes available. Office of the Administrator
06 May 2026
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Translated
6 mayo 2026 - 19:03
Hantavirus: Latest Updates on the MV Hondius Cruise Ship (Live) | Mónica García notes that person-to-person transmission "is not common, but cannot be ruled out," adding that the fatality rate hovers around 50%.
Excerpt:
The Minister of Health highlights that, at this moment, there are no individuals exhibiting symptoms on board the ship, which is scheduled to dock at the Tenerife port of Granadilla de Abona in approximately three days. The luxury cruise ship—currently experiencing a hantavirus outbreak—will arrive at the Tenerife port of Granadilla de Abona in response to a request from the WHO, as confirmed by the government this Wednesday. It is estimated to arrive within three days of resuming its voyage, as it currently remains anchored off the coast of Cape Verde. Earlier this morning, the three individuals exhibiting symptoms—nationals of Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands—were evacuated from the ship aboard two medicalized aircraft. As explained by Health Minister Mónica García, there are currently no individuals exhibiting symptoms on board the MV Hondius. Once the ship docks in Granadilla de Abona, the foreign nationals will be repatriated. As for the 14 Spanish nationals, they will undergo medical examination and be transferred to the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid, where they will remain "in quarantine for as long as necessary." Mónica García assures that this operation will be carried out "while avoiding all contact with the local population and ensuring the safety of the assistance personnel at all times."
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Translated
06/05/2026 Actualizado a las 19:15h.
Excerpt:
The plan, as confirmed by the government, stipulates that the cruise ship will arrive at the port of Granadilla de Abona, Tenerife, within three to four days. Upon arrival, all foreign nationals will be repatriated to their countries of origin via a European civil protection mechanism, thereby "avoiding all contact with the local population and ensuring the safety of assistance personnel." Spanish nationals, once medically evaluated, will be evacuated via military aircraft to the Gómez Ulla Military Hospital, which is equipped with appropriate isolation units for quarantine purposes.Comment
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https://www.thedailybeast.com/hantav...ench-national/
I do not know how trustworthy this source is, but it would surely be a red flag if trueComment
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