Hantavirus cluster on cruise ship in South Atlantic
Seven cases, three deaths on a Dutch-flagged cruise ship. WHO and ECDC are coordinating the response. The pathogen is Andes hantavirus, the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission.
Current status
Risk assessment · ECDC
According to ECDC (assessment of 6 May 2026), the risk to the general population in Europe remains "very low." Widespread transmission is not expected, because close and prolonged contact is required for transmission and infection-prevention measures are in place onboard and at disembarkation. Significant uncertainties remain — investigations are ongoing.
What is known so far
On 2 May 2026, the United Kingdom's IHR Focal Point notified WHO of a cluster of severe acute respiratory illness onboard a Dutch-flagged cruise ship. As of 4 May 2026, seven cases have been reported (two laboratory-confirmed, five suspected), including three deaths. The first laboratory confirmation was made in South Africa from a patient in intensive care. The vessel departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April 2026 with stops including Antarctica, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena and Ascension. The ship carries 147 individuals (88 passengers, 59 crew) representing 23 nationalities. As of 4 May 2026 it is moored off the coast of Cabo Verde.
Pathogen: Andes hantavirus
The identified pathogen is Andes hantavirus, which is endemic in parts of South America. Hantaviruses generally spread from rodents to humans — most often through inhalation of dust or small particles from infected rodents' urine, droppings or saliva, particularly in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. Andes hantavirus is the only hantavirus for which person-to-person transmission has been described; it typically requires close and prolonged contact. The hantavirus pulmonary syndrome caused by Andes hantavirus is severe — with fever and general symptoms followed by rapid respiratory distress and circulatory shock.
Official response
On 6 May 2026, ECDC published a Threat Assessment Brief on the risk to Europe and deployed an EU Health Task Force expert onboard. The response is coordinated with national authorities in Spain, the Netherlands, other EU/EEA countries, the United Kingdom and WHO. Precautionary medical evacuation of symptomatic individuals and their close contacts is being considered.
What we don't track
InfectRisk tracks respiratory infections — influenza, COVID, RSV — in 36 countries, based on national surveillance systems. Hantavirus outbreaks are outside our app data stream; the authoritative sources are WHO Disease Outbreak News and ECDC. This page consolidates the official notifications and their assessment.
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Sources
- WHO · 2026-DON599 · Published 04 May 2026
- ECDC · Published 06 May 2026