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Hantavirus cluster on cruise ship (MV Hondius)

Currently, there is an outbreak of Andes hantavirus affecting multiple countries, following a vessel disembarking in Tenerife with passengers from 23 nationalities. As of May 28, 2026, there have been 11 confirmed cases, 2 probable cases, and 3 deaths reported. The official risk level is assessed as "very low".

Personal risk
Risk low

Transmission requires direct contact with cases or rodent exposure; travel/contact risk in continental Europe is very low.

WHO global assessment
Risk very lowECDC
As of: 28 May 2026 · Source: WHO
Published by Dominik Martin · Software engineer and data aggregator· Methodology last reviewed: 17 May 2026· Methodology version 1.0
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11
confirmed
2
suspected
3
deaths
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Latest coverage

As of: 21/06/2026, 12:00
  1. NBC News
    The hantavirus quarantine is over. Here’s what cruise passengers and scientists learned.
  2. Yahoo
    What did we learn from the hantavirus cruise ship scare?
  3. Yahoo
    Hantavirus latest updates: New case in Spain takes total to 13 after cruise ship outbreak
  4. ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
    US cruise passenger quarantining for hantavirus says he will remain in Nebraska for full 42 days
  5. CNN
    Spanish citizen evacuated from hantavirus-hit cruise ship tests positive

External coverage via Google News, refreshed automatically. Editorial responsibility for the listed articles lies with the publishing outlets, not InfectRisk. Only the dossier text above is editorially curated.

What is known so far

On May 14, 2026, the CDC provided an update on the hantavirus response. On May 15, 2026, ECDC published rapid scientific advice on infection, prevention, and control measures for patients with Andes virus disease. On May 19, 2026, the CDC reported on the hantavirus outbreak linked to the M/V Hondius cruise ship. On May 22, 2026, ECDC reported a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses on the ship, which had passengers and crew from 23 countries. On May 28, 2026, WHO reported a total of 13 cases, including 11 confirmed and 2 probable cases, as well as 3 deaths. On June 12, 2026, 21 countries launched a coordinated research initiative on the Andes virus following the hantavirus outbreak. The latest information comes from the ECDC communicable disease threats report covering June 6-12, 2026.

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

Content reviewed on 17 May 2026 by Dominik Martin. The page is updated when new official assessments become available; the review date at the top reflects the latest revision. Corrections or additions: email dominik@infectrisk.com.
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