Cruise ship - Hantavirus - May 3+ - As of May 22 per WHO: 13 total cases, 3 total deaths - WHO considers the outbreak over (July 2, 2026)

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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

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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

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Translation Google



May 30, 2026
News
Reading time: 1 min

Cleaning and disinfection of ship Hondius completed

From a public health perspective, there are no longer any obstacles to putting the ship Hondius into operation. This is evident from the final inspection of the ship on Friday, May 29. During this targeted inspection, infection prevention experts from the GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond determined that the Hondius has been effectively cleaned and that the disinfection has been completed in accordance with the established guidelines.

During a previous inspection, following the initial cleaning and disinfection of the ship, the Municipal Health Service (GGD) advised carrying out an additional cleaning round. The additional cleaning work has been carried out and approved by the Municipal Health Service.

https://www.ggdrotterdamrijnmond.nl/reiniging-en-desinfectie-schip-hondius-afgerond

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Update from Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald on New York Residents Returning from the MV Hondius Cruise Ship

Albany, N.Y. (May 29, 2026) - "Last month, three New York residents who were passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship arrived in Nebraska for screening and monitoring. New York State has been informed that, of those three, one is remaining in Nebraska to complete their 42-day monitoring period, while the other two are expected to return to New York next week. These two individuals will be transported via non-commercial flights to New York State to complete the remainder of their 42-day monitoring and quarantine period – which ends June 22 – in residences located outside of New York City. Out of respect for their privacy, the Department will not provide any additional information about their identity or location.

"The Department continues to work in close coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health partners on the monitoring program for these two individuals. Under protocols established to monitor their health and protect the community, a quarantine order is in place for those two individuals. They have agreed and are required to remain at their residences, have no contact with other people, and participate in daily monitoring activities conducted by local health officials. Plans are in place to transport them to appropriate medical facilities if they develop symptoms or need any other medical care.

"At this point, it is important to emphasize that there is no immediate risk to the public. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed."

The latest information on this outbreak can be found at www.health.ny.gov/hantavirus.

https://www.health.ny.gov/press/releases/2026/2026-05-29_update.htm

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Hantavirus monitoring updates
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Tuesday, June 2, 2026

After spending three weeks at the National Quarantine Unit (NQU) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, five former passengers from the MV Hondius have returned to their home states for continued monitoring for the next 21 days under the jurisdiction of their local and state public health departments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requested the individuals from the cruise ship associated with a Hantavirus remain at the NQU through Sunday, May 31.

Travel for the former passengers was coordinated through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and each passenger’s local and state health department. The individuals did not travel commercially, and appropriate biocontainment measures were in place during their transport. The CDC has also been coordinating with impacted states on requirements for the passengers to continue self-monitoring at their homes.

Because symptoms of Hantavirus can take up to 42 days to appear, all 18 of the former passengers were strongly encouraged to complete the entire period at the NQU. Thirteen of the passengers remain in Omaha for monitoring.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine is one of 13 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers within the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response National Special Pathogen System.

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https://www.nebraskamed.com/hantavirus/quarantine-updates

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France -

Translation Google

Hantavirus: Hospitalized for three weeks, 22 French contact cases will be able to return home this Saturday

Among the 22 former passengers of one of the two flights taken by the same patient, some had challenged their isolation in court. The French woman herself remains in stable condition in intensive care.

By Nicolas Berrod
June 4 , 2026 at 7:43 PM , updated June 4, 2026 at 7:51 PM

Finally! Cut off from their surroundings and hospitalized for three weeks in different cities across the country, 22 French citizens will be able to return home this Saturday and resume a normal life, the Ministry of Health has announced. They are among our 26 compatriots who were close contacts of at least one person infected with the Andean hantavirus , all of whom have been isolated for three weeks in order to be tested and monitored… despite the absence of symptoms and consistently negative results.

These first 22 released, including four children and teenagers, are distributed as follows: eight passengers from a Saint Helena-Johannesburg flight, taken by a symptomatic Dutch woman on April 25; and 14 others from a Johannesburg-Amsterdam flight, in which this same woman had "briefly" boarded, on the same day.

If any of these 22 French people had been infected on that occasion, we would know by now. This Saturday will mark 42 days, the maximum estimated time between infection and the onset of symptoms, since that last contact deemed "at risk" with a sick person.

Their return home will be "coordinated by the Regional Health Agencies (ARS) in conjunction with the Health Crisis Centre of the Ministry of Health," the latter indicates.

A hardened initial protocol

Initially, the protocol announced by the government on Sunday, May 10, simply encouraged passengers on these two flights to limit their social interactions. But barely 24 hours later, there was a complete change of approach: isolation in the hospital for everyone, "without exception," for at least 15 days and up to 42 days from the last contact.

Some have tried, unsuccessfully, to challenge this measure in court. The four other close contacts are expected to remain hospitalized until at least June 21. These are the four cruise passengers who came into contact with several infected individuals aboard the MV Hondius, and for whom the last high-risk contact was on May 10, the day the ship disembarked in the Canary Islands.

A fifth passenger, finally, became symptomatic during repatriation to France the same day. Testing positive upon arrival in Paris, she remains in stable condition in intensive care.

https://www.leparisien.fr/societe/sante/hantavirus-hospitalises-depuis-trois-semaines-22-cas-contact-vont-pouvoir-rentrer-chez-eux-ce-samedi-04-06-2026-AGLHPWESLNADTK7YZI75HUQB34.php

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UKHSA update on the hantavirus cruise ship outbreak

Latest information on cases including British nationals.

From: UK Health Security Agency and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published 6 May 2026
Last updated 2 June 2026 — See all updates



Latest update

UKHSA continues to work closely with partners in response to the hantavirus outbreak.

Following a review of evidence, the self-isolation period for contacts of confirmed Andes hantavirus cases in the UK has now been reduced to 42 days. This aligns with WHO guidance. Those isolating in the UK have been informed.

UKHSA’s initial 45-day approach was based on early risk assessment and was adopted until further epidemiological information emerged on the outbreak strain. Subsequent WHO guidance reduced this to a 42-day isolation period, which has now been adopted by most countries, including the UK.

Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Officer at UKHSA, said:

Following a review of the evidence on Andes hantavirus, I am pleased to say that the isolation period for contacts in the UK has now been reduced to 42 days in line with WHO guidance.

We know this has been a challenging time for the passengers, crew and other contacts and we want to express our gratitude to everyone for their cooperation throughout.

Our teams will continue to work closely with local authorities and the NHS to ensure everyone affected by this outbreak has the necessary support in place.

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https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-update-on-the-hantavirus-cruise-ship-outbreak#full-publication-update-history

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Translation Google



Hantavirus: The Malbrán Institute and the US CDC will carry out wild rodent capture operations in Mendoza

During the week of June 8-12, work will be carried out in areas near Malargüe to detect the possible circulation of hantavirus in natural reservoirs, as part of the epidemiological investigation of the outbreak detected on the MV Hondius cruise ship.

June 5, 2026

As part of the epidemiological investigation of the hantavirus outbreak detected on the MV Hondius cruise ship, specialists from the Molecular Biology Service of ANLIS Malbrán, together with biologists from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States , will carry out a health operation in the city of Malargüe, Mendoza, between June 8 and 12 .

The activities, which will be carried out with specialists from the Directorate of Epidemiology, Quality and Management Control of the Ministry of Health and Sports of Mendoza, will include tasks of capturing wild rodents and epidemiological studies aimed at detecting the possible circulation of the virus in natural reservoirs.

As a preliminary step to the start of fieldwork, the director of ANLIS Malbrán, Dr. Claudia Perandones , led a meeting this Friday with the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Argentina, Dr. Rachel Smith , and the members of the technical teams who will participate in the operation. During the meeting, aspects related to planning and final guidelines for the tasks were discussed.

Also participating from ANLIS Malbrán were Dr. Daniel Cisterna, director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INEI); Dr. Alexis Edelstein, director of the Central Operational Unit for Biological Containment (UOCCB); Dr. Carla Bellomo, from the Molecular Biology Service of INEI; and Dr. Carlos Giovacchini, head of the Epidemiology Department of INEI. Representing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were Yoshinori Nakazawa and James Graziano.



The sites were selected based on ecological and ecoepidemiological criteria related to the distribution and habits of the main species of public health concern , including Oligoryzomys longicaudatus , Abrothrix hirta , and Abrothrix olivacea , which are associated with hantavirus transmission in natural environments. Areas with low human traffic will also be prioritized to ensure public safety and facilitate fieldwork.

As part of the operation, teams will conduct reconnaissance patrols and set up Sherman traps , which will remain active overnight, the period of greatest activity for these species. Subsequently, each capture point will be surveyed, and any specimens obtained will be transferred to a processing center equipped under strict biosecurity protocols.

For these tasks, the professionals will use highly complex personal protective equipment . They will also have specialized materials for collecting biological samples and morphologically characterizing the different rodent species that may be found in the area.



Initial processing will take place in a field laboratory, where species identification and blood and tissue collection will be performed under strict biosafety protocols . Subsequently, the obtained material will be packaged in biosafety containers and temporarily stored in local institutions until its transfer to the ANLIS Malbrán National Reference Laboratory for Hantavirus for specialized analysis .

Samples obtained in Ushuaia

The Molecular Biology Service team at ANLIS Malbrán continues its specific analyses of samples obtained from areas on the outskirts of Ushuaia and within Tierra del Fuego National Park . The results will provide key information for the epidemiological study and investigation of the outbreak.

https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticia...-de-captura-de

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Sunday, 7 June 2026 - 13:55

Cruise ship Hondius departs Rotterdam for Norway after deadly hantavirus outbreak

The cruise ship Hondius left the port of Rotterdam on Saturday evening en route to Spitsbergen in Norway, following a hantavirus outbreak in May that killed three people and led to an emergency evacuation in Tenerife. The departure marks the vessel’s return to service after extensive cleaning and delays.

The ship, which had been docked in Rotterdam for three weeks, is scheduled to arrive next weekend in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, where it will begin a new seven-day cruise.

A spokesperson for operator Oceanwide Expeditions told the ANP that 137 guests and a doctor will board for the voyage in the Norwegian region.
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https://nltimes.nl/2026/06/07/cruise-ship-hondius-departs-rotterdam-norway-deadly-hantavirus-outbreak

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UKHSA update on the hantavirus cruise ship outbreak

Latest information on cases including British nationals.

From: UK Health Security Agency and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published 6 May 2026
Last updated 10 June 2026 — See all updates



Latest update

UKHSA continues to work closely with partners in response to the hantavirus outbreak.

UKHSA laboratories have confirmed a positive hantavirus test result for an individual in Tristan de Cunha, who was previously considered a probable case by WHO with exposure on MV Hondius. This is not a new case.

The samples were collected in May and the individual is now clinically well at home in Tristan de Cunha.

All necessary public health actions have been carried out. There is no change to the public health risk to the UK population from Hantavirus, which remains very low.
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https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-update-on-the-hantavirus-cruise-ship-outbreak

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9:34 AM · Jun 10, 2026

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Spain -

Translation Google

When a pathogen travels on a cruise ship: a test of preparedness for global health security

Alex Almuedo
Pedro Luis Alonso

Published on June 11, 2026 //

These days, the 14 Spanish residents who traveled aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship are completing a quarantine that began on May 10 and ends on June 21. The 12 who were being monitored as contacts, all asymptomatic and with negative PCR tests, have already left the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital in Madrid to complete their quarantine at home. Of the two confirmed cases, one has recovered and been discharged, while the other remains hospitalized in the High-Level Isolation Unit, in stable condition and without clinical deterioration.

"The outbreak itself offers the best summary: it has been a test of the international capacity to respond to crises, and the coordination worked because the tools of preparedness had been put in place.

Forty-two days is not an arbitrary number, but rather the maximum incubation period for the Andes hantavirus, the virus that has caused three deaths and 13 infections. This long incubation period, the time that elapses from when a person is exposed to the virus until they may develop symptoms, has added complexity to an already difficult-to-manage outbreak. The MV Hondius episode is small in terms of numbers, but it clearly encapsulates the challenge that defines public health in our time: increasing mobility and a growing emergence of zoonotic diseases like this one. And given that the trend of global mobility shows no signs of slowing down, the difference between a contained health crisis and an uncontrolled one is not determined by the speed of the reaction, important as that is, but by the strength of the preparedness built beforehand.

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https://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/comentarios/cuando-el-patogeno-viaja-en-crucero-una-prueba-de-preparacion-para-la-seguridad-sanitaria-global/

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How did the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak start? Scientists are investigating new scenarios
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11 Jun 20263:55 PM ET By Kai Kupferschmidt
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The Dutch couple, both retired ornithologists, took a 4-month road trip through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay before boarding the ship. Researchers have pieced together their itinerary through geolocation data from bird photos they posted on a website called eBird and records of their border crossings. Strangely, they do not appear to have traveled through areas where Andes virus is known to circulate, or where human cases of disease have appeared, during the virus’ known incubation period. Estimates vary, but the Pan American Health Organization puts that period at 7 to 39 days.

Although researchers were skeptical of the link to Ushuaia from the start, it has only become more unlikely as they have gathered evidence. The Dutch passengers arrived in Ushuaia on 29 March, and the man is now understood to have developed a fever just 5 days later, on 3 April. (Earlier reports had pinpointed 6 April.) Such a short incubation period is “not impossible, but it seems very unlikely,” says Valeria Martinez, a virologist at Argentina’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases and a collaborator on the investigation. And trapping efforts by an Argentine team at the Ushuaia landfill turned up no long-tailed pygmy rice rats, the rodents that carry Andes virus, Martinez adds.

Genomic evidence points to a different region. When researchers compared the viral sequences recovered from passengers on the MV Hondius with Andes virus sequences from other patients, they found the closest matches dated to 2018. They were taken from two brothers who fell ill in Villa Meliquina in Neuquén province, more than 2000 kilometers north of Ushuaia and bordering Chile. After discovering the match, Argentine researchers sequenced samples from more recent cases in that area and found that these, too, were very similar to the virus isolated from cruise ship passengers. “So we know that these viruses are still circulating in that area,” Palacios says. Their itinerary shows the couple passed through Neuquén in their motor home before the cruise. But that was in the first days of February, which would mean an unprecedentedly long incubation period of 60 days.
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If the 60-day incubation period is correct, that would call into question the 42-day quarantine the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended for healthy passengers who have left the MV Hondius, which most countries are following. But even in that case, 60 days is likely an outlier, says Thomas Ksiazek, a researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch who was not involved in the investigation: “The probability of it being that long is still not very high.” And patients only become infectious around the time they start to have symptoms, he notes, meaning monitoring former passengers for symptoms might be enough.
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https://www.science.org/content/article/how-did-cruise-ship-hantavirus-outbreak-start-scientists-are-investigating-new

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1:16 PM · Jun 18, 2026

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https://www.who.int/emergencies/alert-and-response

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Spain -



5:13 AM · Jun 21, 2026

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1:14 AM · Jun 23, 2026