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The global race to find passengers from hantavirus-hit cruise ship
The hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius has prompted health agencies to monitor passengers returning to multiple countries. As the ship sails toward the Canary Islands for medical assessment and potential repatriation, authorities warn this is not a pandemic, while cases and deaths continue to be reported across several nations.
Why It Matters
The incident tests international public health coordination, border controls, and risk communication as countries manage travelers and potential exposures amid growing global scrutiny.
Timeline
15 Events
May 8, 2026 — Correction issued on transmission report
May 8, 2026
Correction issued: This is the first time human transmission has been documented on a boat; human transmission has been seen with the Andes strain in other contexts.
May 8, 2026 — Deaths and other case updates
May 8, 2026
Three deaths have occurred: two Dutch nationals (a husband and wife) and a German woman who died in South Africa; health checks continue worldwide.
May 8, 2026 — Canary Islands president opposes docking; Madrid quarantine plan disclosed
May 8, 2026
The Canary Islands’ president opposed docking the Hondius there; Madrid outlined quarantine for 14 Spanish passengers if needed.
May 8, 2026 — Dutch hospital admission related to symptoms
May 8, 2026
A Dutch woman was admitted to a hospital in Amsterdam after showing possible hantavirus symptoms; authorities linked her case to the outbreak amid ongoing investigations.
May 8, 2026 — Suspected case detected in Alicante; Spain increases vigilance
May 8, 2026
A suspected hantavirus case was detected in Alicante in a passenger who had flown on the same flight as a patient who died in Johannesburg.
May 8, 2026 — Health agencies monitor returnees; CDC Level 3; WHO stance
May 8, 2026
The WHO said the outbreak is not pandemic-level; transmission requires close contact. The U.S. CDC classified the hantavirus response as Level 3.
May 8, 2026 — Canary Islands docking plan and current aboard count
May 8, 2026
Spanish authorities said the ship is expected to dock in Tenerife by May 9, 2026. At least 146 people from 23 countries remain aboard the Hondius as it sails toward the Canary Islands for medical assessment before potential repatriation.
May 6, 2026 — Two British men with confirmed cases; one evacuated to the Netherlands
May 6, 2026
Two other British nationals have confirmed hantavirus cases. One, Martin Anstee, was evacuated to the Netherlands and remains in stable condition; the other was flown to South Africa for treatment.
May 6, 2026 — Swiss passenger tests positive for Andes hantavirus in Zurich
May 6, 2026
A Swiss man who had disembarked the ship tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus in Zurich and is receiving care there.
May 6, 2026 — MV Hondius leaves West Africa anchorage toward Canary Islands
May 6, 2026
The Hondius, previously denied docking at a West African archipelago and anchored off its coast, set off toward the Canary Islands.
May 4, 2026 — First hantavirus case confirmed
May 4, 2026
The World Health Organization confirmed the first hantavirus case linked to the cruise outbreak.
April 28, 2026 — Fever onset in a passenger
April 28, 2026
One woman aboard initially developed a fever on April 28, 2026; pneumonia subsequently emerged in some cases.
April 24, 2026 — Brits disembark at St Helena
April 24, 2026
Seven British passengers disembarked the MV Hondius at St Helena; four remained on board.
April 2026 — Ship stops at Tristan da Cunha (mid-April)
April 2026
A passenger believed to carry the Andes hantavirus strain was on board when the ship stopped at Tristan da Cunha in mid-April.
April 1, 2026 — Cruise begins in Ushuaia, Argentina
April 1, 2026
The luxury cruise MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, began its journey in Ushuaia, Argentina.