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Hantavirus cluster on cruise ship (MV Hondius)

Currently, there are 12 confirmed cases, 1 probable case, and 3 deaths associated with the hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship disembarked in Tenerife. The affected individuals come from 23 nationalities. 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: 02 July 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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12
confirmed
1
suspected
3
deaths

What is known so far

On May 13, 2026, the CDC provided an update on the hantavirus response. On May 15, 2026, the CDC released further information regarding the hantavirus outbreak. On May 26, 2026, the ECDC reported on an Andes hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship M/V Hondius. On July 2, 2026, WHO reported a total of 13 cases (12 confirmed and 1 probable case) and 3 deaths globally linked to the cruise ship. WHO noted that the infection of initial cases was likely acquired on land prior to embarkation, and that limited human-to-human transmission occurred aboard the vessel. Epidemiological investigations and genomic sequencing of ANDV samples from surveillance cases in Chile and Argentina are ongoing. As of July 2, 2026, it was determined that the outbreak was successfully contained through coordinated international measures and no further public health risk remains.

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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This page reproduces official outbreak notifications. If you want to know how high influenza, COVID or RSV activity is right now where you are: the InfectRisk app delivers exactly that, across 36 countries, based on RKI/ECDC/CDC/UKHSA.

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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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