Cruise ship - Hantavirus - May 3+ - As of May 22 per WHO: 13 total cases, 3 total deaths

[Commonground]

UKHSA update on the hantavirus cruise ship outbreak
Last updated 26 May 2026


Latest update

Last week, we confirmed that 10 individuals had left Arrowe Park. An additional 6 individuals left Arrowe Park over the weekend and returned home or to other suitable accommodation to complete their 45-day isolation period. The UK government has also supported the relocation of a British national who was in hospital in the Netherlands, having been previously confirmed to have hantavirus.

Now that the individual has returned to England, UKHSA will detail this case in its statistical release tomorrow, Wednesday 27 May. It’s important to be aware that this is not a new case and was previously confirmed by WHO on 7 May. The individual was medically evacuated and is being offered full support with strict infection prevention and control measures in place. The risk to the general public remains very low.

Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UKHSA, said:

We have worked closely with FCDO and the Dutch authorities to ensure the safe return of a British national who was previously confirmed to have hantavirus and has been receiving care in the Netherlands. It’s important to stress that this is an existing case and the wider risk to the general public remains very low.

As people continue with their isolation period, UKHSA will continue to work with our partners locally, nationally and internationally to ensure everyone has the necessary support in place.

We would like to again stress our thanks and gratitude to everyone at Arrowe Park who has worked so hard during this challenging time.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/u...-ship-outbreak

[Pathfinder]

38 Filipinos in hantavirus quarantine in good condition; none infected

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

May 29, 2026, 6:18 pm


MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) said Friday the 38 Filipinos from the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius currently undergoing quarantine in the Netherlands are all in good condition, and none has been found infected.

Speaking at a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, DOH Undersecretary Albert Domingo said Health Secretary Ted Herbosa received the updates from no less than the Netherlands Health Minister Sophie Hermans on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, this month.

“Ni isa sa mga 38 ay (hindi) dinapuan, awa ng Diyos at tumatakbo lamang hanggang middle of June iyong quarantine nila (None of the 38 were infected, thank God, and their quarantine will only be until mid-June),” he said.

“Dahil sa kooperasyon sa World Health Organization at saka sa Netherlands at iba pang bansa ay naiiwasan natin na maapektuhan ang ating mga kababayan (Because of our cooperation with the World Health Organization, the Netherlands, and other countries, we are able to ensure our nationals are not affected by such cases).”

Domingo said some of the crew members might continue with their employment once they complete their quarantine, while others are expected to request repatriation.

The 38 arrived in the Netherlands in the middle of May to undergo a required six-week quarantine.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on May 28 that at least three additional confirmed cases of hantavirus were recorded in Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain following the outbreak linked to the MV Hondius.

To date, there are 13 confirmed cases of hantavirus infection from the ship, including three deaths.

Hantavirus, according to the WHO, "are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans."

it said infection in people can result in severe illness and often death, although the diseases vary by type of virus and geographical location.

The latest outbreak, which occurred in April among passengers of the Dutch expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, was traced to the Andes hantavirus, a strain capable of human-to-human transmission.

The WHO said the risk posed by the outbreak to the global population is currently “low,” but it will continue to monitor the situation. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1276155