The World Health Organization has confirmed eight cases of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, with three deaths reported as of May 11, 2026. The outbreak, believed to involve the rare Andes strain of the virus, has prompted health authorities in several countries to monitor passengers who disembarked from the vessel.
WHO Reports Eight Confirmed and Probable Cases
According to the WHO, eight people had confirmed or probable hantavirus infections as of May 8, 2026. The total includes two confirmed deaths and one probable death linked to the virus.
Two of the deceased were Dutch nationals, and one other Dutch person was confirmed to have contracted the virus. The WHO has not released a full list of nationalities for all cases but said updates would follow as investigations continue.
Breakdown by Nationality
Based on WHO reports and media accounts from the Netherlands and other affected countries, the known cases by nationality are as follows:
Netherlands
Three Dutch nationals were among the confirmed cases. Two of them died from the infection, and one survived. The Dutch government confirmed the fatalities and said it was coordinating with international health agencies.
United States
Several U.S. nationals who were passengers on the MV Hondius have been placed under health monitoring after disembarking. NBC News reported that these individuals traveled to at least five states: Texas, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, and California. No U.S. cases have been confirmed as positive for hantavirus as of May 11, but health officials are conducting tests.
Other Nationalities
The WHO has not yet released a complete list of nationalities for all eight confirmed and probable cases. Health authorities in Spain, where the ship docked in Tenerife, are also monitoring passengers who may have been exposed.
Timeline of the Outbreak
The outbreak was first reported in early May 2026. The MV Hondius, a cruise ship operated by a Dutch company, was traveling in the Atlantic when several passengers developed symptoms consistent with hantavirus infection.
On May 4, 2026, the WHO published an initial disease outbreak notice, reporting suspected cases. By May 8, three suspected cases were confirmed, and an additional confirmed case was added, bringing the total to eight.
The ship reached Tenerife, Spain, on May 10, where passengers disembarked under quarantine protocols.
Andes Strain: Rare Human-to-Human Transmission
Health officials believe the outbreak involves the Andes hantavirus, a rare strain primarily found in South America. Unlike other hantaviruses, the Andes strain can spread from person to person, though such transmission is considered uncommon.
The WHO said in its May 8 update that the risk of further spread remains low but advised countries to remain vigilant. Contact tracing is underway for all passengers and crew.
“The risk of further human-to-human transmission from this outbreak is assessed as low at the global level,” the WHO said in its May 8 Disease Outbreak News update.
US Monitoring Passengers in Five States
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring U.S. nationals who were on the MV Hondius. These individuals are now in Texas, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, and California, according to NBC News.
The CDC has not confirmed any cases among these passengers. Health officials are conducting symptom checks and testing as a precaution.
Background on Hantavirus in the US
Hantavirus is rare in the United States. The CDC reports that as of the end of 2023, only 890 cases of hantavirus disease had been reported in the U.S. since surveillance began in 1993. These cases include hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and other non-pulmonary infections.
American Indian and Alaska Native populations accounted for 19 percent of reported cases, the CDC said. Most cases in the U.S. are linked to rodent exposure, not human-to-human transmission.
What Health Authorities Are Doing
The WHO is coordinating with health ministries in the Netherlands, Spain, the United States, and other countries where passengers have traveled. Contact tracing, testing, and quarantine measures are in place.
Spain’s health ministry has placed the MV Hondius under quarantine at the port of Tenerife. Crew members who remain on board are being tested and monitored.
The WHO said it would continue to update its guidance as more information becomes available. The agency emphasized that the overall risk to the global population remains low.
Forward-Looking Statement
Health authorities are expected to release a full breakdown of confirmed cases by nationality in the coming days as laboratory results are finalized and contact tracing is completed.
