Special report: Andes Hantavirus risk assessment
An Andes Hantavirus outbreak aboard the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, initially reported by WHO on May 3, 2026, has led to 11 confirmed or suspected cases and three deaths, prompting international quarantine measures and repatriation of exposed passengers to specialized facilities in the U.S. The virus, confirmed as Andes Virus (ANDV) on May 6, is notable for its rare human-to-human transmission capability, though public health officials continue to assess the overall risk as low.
A cluster of Andes Hantavirus cases aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship traveling from Argentina toward Cape Verde, was first reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 3, 2026. The outbreak included one laboratory-confirmed case and five suspected cases, with three deaths and one patient in intensive care in South Africa. By May 6, WHO confirmed the virus as Andes Virus (ANDV), the only hantavirus known to transmit between humans in limited circumstances. Case numbers rose to eight, including three confirmed cases and three deaths, while Spanish and WHO authorities prepared health screenings as the ship neared the Canary Islands. On May 8, U.S. quarantine operations were activated, with exposed American passengers transported to Nebraska Medicine’s National Quarantine Unit after disembarkation. All arriving passengers were asymptomatic at the time of transfer. The same day, WHO reported eight confirmed or suspected cases, with international contact tracing expanding. Emory University Hospital received two passengers from the MV Hondius on May 11, admitting one symptomatic patient to its serious communicable diseases unit while monitoring an asymptomatic close contact under biocontainment protocols. By May 12, WHO documented 11 outbreak-associated cases, including nine laboratory-confirmed ANDV infections and two probable cases, with no new deaths since May 2. Experts, including Dr. Alex Isakov of Emory University, emphasized the low overall public risk while highlighting the virus’s rare person-to-person transmission potential.
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