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Hantavirus cluster on cruise ship (MV Hondius)

Currently, there is an outbreak of Andes hantavirus affecting passengers from 23 nationalities who disembarked from the M/V Hondius in Tenerife. As of May 28, 2026, there are 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 low
ECDC
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: 06/06/2026, 11:06
  1. AP News
    Argentina expands hantavirus probe, sending teams to trap and test rats in Mendoza
  2. INQUIRER.net USA
    Should you cancel your cruise as deadly hantavirus emerges?
  3. OregonLive.com
    Bend doctor returns home to finish quarantine after hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship
  4. USA Today
    18 US passengers sent to Nebraska, Atlanta amid hantavirus outbreak
  5. Live Science
    Hantavirus cruise: 41 people in the United States being monitored as investigation into outbreak source continues

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 13, 2026, the CDC reported on the hantavirus outbreak and ongoing responses. On May 15, 2026, the CDC issued an update on the hantavirus response. On May 19, 2026, the CDC provided information about the outbreak linked to the M/V Hondius cruise ship. On May 22, 2026, the ECDC reported on the outbreak and the identification of Andes hantavirus. On May 28, 2026, WHO reported a total of 13 cases, including 11 confirmed and 2 probable cases, as well as 3 deaths. Investigations into the source of transmission and the circumstances of the outbreak are ongoing.

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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