Cruise-linked reported cases
8
MV Hondius cluster reported to WHO. WHO, May 7, 2026
Last verified: May 8, 2026Hantavirus
Hantavirus
Tracker
This hantavirus tracker provides live verified outbreak data — case counts, deaths, outbreak locations, symptoms, prevention guidance, and official WHO/CDC public-health sources.
General public riskLowWHO assessment, May 7, 2026
Confirmed strainAndes virusSA NICD, May 6, 2026
Active clusterMV HondiusMulti-country investigation
Hantavirus tracker — live data as of May 8, 2026
Laboratory-confirmed cases
5
PCR or lab-confirmed hantavirus. WHO, May 7, 2026
Deaths
3
Fatal outcomes confirmed in cluster. WHO, May 7, 2026
Countries monitoring
12
Actively tracking disembarked passengers. WHO / CNN, May 7, 2026
Public risk (WHO)
Low
General public risk assessment. WHO, May 7, 2026
Virus strain
Andes
Only hantavirus known for human-to-human spread. SA NICD, May 6, 2026
US historical cases
890
Cumulative confirmed US cases. CDC, Apr. 23, 2026
Argentina cases (2025–26)
101
Infections since June 2025 — 2× prior year. Argentina Health Ministry
Current outbreak summary
This hantavirus tracker is monitoring the MV Hondius cluster — a Dutch-flagged expedition vessel that departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, 2026 with 114 passengers and crew from 23 nationalities. As of May 7, WHO reports eight cases — five laboratory-confirmed, three suspected — and three deaths. South Africa's NICD identified the Andes hantavirus strain, the only known hantavirus capable of human-to-human transmission. Twelve countries are actively monitoring disembarked passengers. WHO assesses the risk to the general public as low.
Argentina reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025 — roughly twice the prior-year rate — highlighting the endemic context in which the vessel's index case likely contracted the virus. This hantavirus tracker separates reported cases from confirmed cases and links each figure to its primary source.
DETAILED TIMELINE
How the MV Hondius cluster developed
Key outbreak milestones from the vessel itinerary, case reports, WHO notifications, testing, evacuation, and contact tracing.
WHO UPDATE
WHO response update: 8 cases, risk LOW
WHO reports eight cases (five confirmed, three suspected) and three deaths. Risk to general public assessed as low. 2,500 diagnostic kits dispatched from Argentina to labs in five countries.
EVACUATION
Evacuations to Netherlands ongoing
Three patients — including the ship's doctor — evacuated from the vessel in Cape Verde for specialist care. A British national in Johannesburg ICU is reported improving.
CONFIRMED
Andes virus strain confirmed
South Africa's NICD confirms the Andes hantavirus strain in two passengers — the only hantavirus strain known to spread human-to-human, albeit rarely.
CASE CONFIRMED
Swiss case brings total to 8
Switzerland confirms a male passenger treated in Zurich. MV Hondius departs Cape Verde at 19:15 CET, sailing for Granadilla, Tenerife. Canary Islands had previously refused docking.
DON
WHO Disease Outbreak News published
WHO DON599 describes seven cases — two confirmed, five suspected — and three deaths as of May 4. Vessel moored off Praia, Cape Verde while health teams evaluate patients.
VESSEL
Ship docks at Praia, Cape Verde
MV Hondius anchors off Praia. International health teams board to assess passengers, collect specimens, and begin contact-tracing of 147 passengers and crew from 23 nationalities.
DEATH
3rd death · German national
A German woman dies on board. The same day, the UK notifies WHO of a cluster of severe acute respiratory illness including two deaths and one critically ill passenger.
WHO NOTIFIED
WHO notified — PCR confirmed
UK formally notifies WHO. South Africa's NICD confirms hantavirus via PCR in the Dutch woman who died on April 26. A British national remains in Johannesburg ICU in critical but stable condition.
DEATH + TRACING
Dutch woman dies · Johannesburg
Wife of the index case, who had disembarked at Saint Helena, collapses on an Airlink flight to Johannesburg and dies on arrival. WHO begins tracing 82 passengers and 6 crew from the same flight.
VESSEL
30 passengers disembark at Saint Helena
Vessel stops at Saint Helena. Thirty guests disembark. The deceased index case's wife, showing gastrointestinal symptoms, also leaves the ship. Another ill passenger is medically evacuated to South Africa.
DEATH
Index case dies onboard
A Dutch national — the index case — dies aboard the vessel. Cause of death cannot be determined on board. Remains are held on Saint Helena pending repatriation.
VOYAGE START
MV Hondius departs Ushuaia
114 passengers and crew from 23 nationalities board for an Antarctic and South Atlantic wildlife expedition. Itinerary includes Antarctica, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, and Ascension Island.
Latest official updates
This hantavirus tracker indexes source-linked updates from WHO and CDC — official sources prioritised over unverified reports.
WHO response: 8 hantavirus cases linked to MV Hondius, risk low
WHO reports eight cases (five confirmed), three deaths, and assesses the risk to the general public as low. 2,500 diagnostic kits were arranged from Argentina for laboratories in five countries.
South Africa confirms Andes hantavirus — the strain capable of human-to-human spread
South Africa's NICD identifies Andes hantavirus in two cruise passengers, confirming the only known hantavirus strain with documented human-to-human transmission.
WHO DON599: Hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship travel, multi-country
First formal Disease Outbreak News: seven cases (two confirmed, five suspected), three deaths. WHO describes ongoing contact tracing across multiple countries.
12 countries monitoring passengers — US, UK, Singapore among them
Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, and Saint Kitts and Nevis all actively monitoring disembarked passengers.
CDC US hantavirus case data: 890 cumulative cases
CDC lists 890 cumulative US cases, noting hantavirus pulmonary syndrome carries a high case fatality rate. No current US outbreak linked to the cruise cluster.
Affected regions and watch areas
Regional rows use official sources. Endemic rows provide disease-context coverage without inflating active case counts.
| Region | Status | Cases | Deaths / CFR | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MV Hondius cluster (multi-country) | Active | 8 (5 confirmed) | 3 | Andes virus strain. 12 countries monitoring disembarked passengers. Ship heading to Tenerife as of May 6. | WHO, May 7, 2026 |
| Argentina | Watch | 101 (since June 2025) | ~35% CFR historically | Hantavirus endemic. 101 infections since June 2025 — roughly twice the caseload of the prior year. Leading hypothesis links the cruise index case to Argentina. | Argentina Health Ministry |
| United States | Historical | 890 cumulative | ~35% case fatality (CDC) | CDC reports cases across many states, mostly rodent-exposure-linked hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. No current outbreak. | CDC, Apr. 23, 2026 |
| Europe (N. & Central) | Endemic | Several thousand/year | <1–12% CFR (HFRS) | Puumala and Dobrava viruses cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Finland, Sweden, Germany among highest burden countries. | WHO fact sheet |
| China & East Asia | Endemic | ~10,000–100,000/year globally | <1–15% CFR (HFRS) | China and Republic of Korea account for the majority of global HFRS burden. Hantaan and Seoul viruses are predominant strains. | WHO / PMC review |
| South Africa | Watch | 3 confirmed (cruise-linked) | 1 | No endemic presence. First known hantavirus cases on the African continent — all linked to MV Hondius passengers. NICD confirmed Andes virus by PCR. | SA NICD / SAnews |
| Americas (broader) | Watch | Varies by country | Up to 50% CFR (HPS) | Most hantavirus infections in the Americas present as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay also report endemic cases. | WHO fact sheet |
Symptoms, transmission, and prevention
Medical guidance tied to official WHO and CDC sources.
Early symptoms
Fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, dizziness, and chills typically appear 1–8 weeks after exposure. Gastrointestinal symptoms are also reported.
Severe disease
HPS (Americas): rapid breathing difficulty and fluid in the lungs. HFRS (Europe/Asia): kidney complications, haemorrhage. Case fatality up to 50% for HPS in the Americas.
Transmission
Primarily through infected rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or contaminated dust. Andes virus is the only strain with documented human-to-human spread, rare and limited.
Prevention
Avoid rodent-contaminated areas; ventilate closed spaces before cleanup; wet contaminated surfaces with disinfectant before sweeping. Follow local health department guidance.
Treatment
No specific antiviral treatment or vaccine exists. Supportive care — particularly respiratory support for HPS and renal support for HFRS — is the standard approach.
When to seek care
Seek immediate medical attention if fever, muscle pain, or breathing difficulty develop after possible rodent exposure or contact with confirmed cases. Inform clinicians of travel history.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers for tracker, outbreak, symptoms, and safety searches.
What is the latest hantavirus tracker update?
As of May 8, 2026, WHO reports eight cases (five confirmed, three suspected) and three deaths linked to the MV Hondius cruise investigation. The Andes virus strain was confirmed. Public risk for the general population is assessed as low.
What are the main hantavirus symptoms?
Early symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, and dizziness. Severe illness can progress to breathing difficulty (hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, HPS) or kidney failure (hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, HFRS) depending on the strain.
Can hantavirus spread person to person?
Most hantaviruses do not spread between people. Andes virus — the strain confirmed in the MV Hondius cluster — is the only known exception, with documented but limited human-to-human transmission in South America.
How does hantavirus spread from rodents?
Hantavirus spreads through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or contaminated dust. Breathing disturbed dust from rodent nests is the primary infection route.
Is this an official public-health advisory?
No. Hantavirus Tracker is an independent public-information site. All data is sourced from WHO, CDC, and official health agencies. Follow those organisations for official guidance.
Why do reported and confirmed case counts differ?
Reported counts include suspected or epidemiologically linked cases. Confirmed counts require laboratory evidence (such as PCR). This tracker separates both and links each figure to its source.
What is the MV Hondius?
MV Hondius is a Dutch-flagged expedition vessel operated by Oceanwide Expeditions. It departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, 2026 with 114 passengers and crew from 23 nationalities on an Antarctic and South Atlantic wildlife voyage.
Which countries are monitoring hantavirus cases from the cruise ship?
As of May 7, 2026, at least 12 countries are actively monitoring passengers who disembarked the MV Hondius: Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Source methodology
This hantavirus tracker uses official public-health sources first. Reported, suspected, confirmed, and historical values are never merged into a single number. Each figure is linked to its primary source. Unverified social-media claims are excluded until an official or high-confidence source confirms them.