Hantavirus: Case count hits 13 as another MV Hondius passenger tests positive in Spain; situation stable, says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported Wednesday that the total number of hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship has risen to 13, with no new deaths since May 2. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the latest case in a post on X, noting that all infected passengers are receiving necessary care while others remain in quarantine. The cruise ship, which operated an expedition from Argentina to Antarctica and remote South Atlantic islands, is suspected of facilitating person-to-person transmission of the rare Andes strain of hantavirus. The WHO emphasized that the outbreak is not comparable to COVID-19 and that the public health risk remains low, despite concerns raised by residents of Tenerife, where the ship disembarked passengers earlier this month. Spain’s Health Ministry previously confirmed a Spanish national in quarantine at a Madrid military hospital tested positive for hantavirus, marking the second positive case among the 14 Spanish nationals evacuated from the MV Hondius. The ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, stated the vessel is undergoing additional cleaning in Rotterdam, Netherlands, following advice from local health authorities. Hantavirus typically spreads through rodent exposure, but the Andes strain can occasionally transmit between humans. The WHO noted that while the fatality rate for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome can reach up to 50%, the current outbreak has resulted in three deaths out of 13 reported cases. Passengers and crew have since disembarked, with the ship now preparing to return to its home port in Vlissingen, Netherlands. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus previously urged Tenerife residents to remain calm, acknowledging past trauma from the COVID-19 pandemic but reassuring the public that the hantavirus situation is under control. The WHO continues to monitor the outbreak while ensuring affected individuals receive appropriate medical care.