US and French nationals test positive for hantavirus after leaving ship

May 11, 2026

A hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in seven confirmed cases and three deaths, with passengers from multiple countries now testing positive after returning home. An American and French national have tested positive following repatriation flights from where the ship is docked in Spain's Canary Islands, while two British nationals are being treated in the Netherlands and South Africa. The vessel, which departed from Argentina in early April, is believed to have exposed passengers to the Andes strain of hantavirus during their South American voyage, a rodent-borne illness that can occasionally transmit between humans.

Who is affected

Seven confirmed hantavirus cases: one American, one French national, two British nationals, and three deceased passengers (one elderly Dutch man, his 69-year-old wife, and one German woman)
A second American national showing mild symptoms
Over 90 passengers from the MV Hondius requiring repatriation
Specific national groups: 17 US citizens, one British national living in the US, 20 British nationals, 14 Spaniards, 26 passengers and crew including eight Dutch nationals, four Australians, one New Zealander, and five Ukrainian crew members
22 contacts traced for the French patient
One Spanish police officer who died of cardiac arrest during the operation
Oceanwide Expeditions (ship operator) and crew members

What action is being taken

54 passengers and crew remain on board the ship in Tenerife
22 people are disembarking to fly to the Netherlands
The MV Hondius is departing for the Netherlands
All 17 US citizens are undergoing clinical assessment at a Nebraska medical facility
Seven other US passengers are being monitored in their home states
The French woman is isolating in Paris
Two British nationals are being treated in the Netherlands and South Africa
20 British nationals are isolating for 72 hours at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral
14 Spaniards face mandatory quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid
Four Ukrainian crew members are operating the ship during transfer to the Netherlands

Why it matters

This outbreak is significant because it involves the rare Andes strain of hantavirus capable of human-to-human transmission, unlike most hantavirus strains that only spread from rodents to humans. The incident has resulted in three deaths and exposed the tension between international health guidelines and national approaches to disease control, with the US rejecting WHO's 42-day isolation recommendation in favor of shorter monitoring periods. The outbreak demonstrates the public health challenges posed by international cruise travel where passengers from multiple countries can be exposed to rare pathogens and then disperse globally, requiring coordinated multinational response efforts. The situation also highlights disagreements among health authorities about appropriate containment measures, with the CDC minimizing concerns while the WHO warns of potential risks from inadequate isolation protocols.

What's next

Two additional evacuation flights are scheduled for Monday afternoon from Spain. Upon arrival in the Netherlands, the MV Hondius crew, including four Ukrainian nationals, will be expected to quarantine at a medical facility. One Ukrainian national will leave the ship as part of the partial crew evacuation on a flight to the Netherlands.

Read full article from source: BBC