TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed five cases of hantavirus linked to an outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Three additional cases remain under investigation as suspected infections.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that a total of eight cases have been reported thus far, including three fatalities.
"While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low," Tedros remarked during a virtual press conference on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
The Dutch-flagged vessel is currently sailing from Cape Verde to Tenerife, Spain, after previously reporting an outbreak of severe respiratory illness among its passengers.
The WHO identified the pathogen found on the ship as the Andes strain, a type of hantavirus prevalent in Latin America and recognized as the only variant capable of person-to-person transmission under specific conditions.
Previous instances of human-to-human transmission have been recorded through close and prolonged contact, particularly among family members, intimate partners, or healthcare workers.
Hantavirus refers to a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe illness in humans. Transmission typically occurs through contact with infected rodents, including their urine, saliva, or droppings.
The first victim on the ship was a man who began exhibiting symptoms on April 6 and died five days later. The WHO stated that no samples were collected at the time, as his symptoms mirrored those of another viral infection.
His wife subsequently became the second victim after disembarking in Saint Helena and passing away on April 25. Another woman became the third fatality after experiencing symptoms on April 25 and died seven days later.
The WHO warned of the potential for additional cases, noting that the incubation period for hantavirus can extend up to six weeks.
Prior to boarding the vessel, it was discovered that the first two victims had participated in a bird-watching excursion in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. During this trip, they visited areas known to be habitats for hantavirus-carrying rodents.
Authorities in Argentina are currently investigating the couple's movements. Tedros stated that Argentina will be distributing 2,500 diagnostic kits to laboratories across five countries.
The WHO has also notified 12 countries where passengers from the ship had disembarked. Those twelve nations include Saint Helena, as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, and the United States.
Read: Hantavirus Probe Traces Dutch Couple Route Before Cruise Outbreak
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