Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship
A cruise ship has been denied entry to port in the Atlantic due to an outbreak of hantavirus on board. This outbreak has resulted in the deaths of three out of the ship’s 150 passengers, with four others seriously affected.
Reports indicate that passengers began falling ill on April 6. On Tuesday, the ship was not granted permission to dock, which was necessary for evacuating two ailing crew members for medical treatment.
“The plan is to medevac those two individuals. That’s in the works; that’s underway. The plan is for the ship to continue to the Canary Islands. We’re speaking to the Spanish authorities,” stated Maria Van Kerkhove, an American epidemiologist and technical adviser for the World Health Organization (WHO), during a Tuesday press briefing.
The remaining passengers are under strict health precautions, including isolation and consistent medical monitoring, as stated by the cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions.
Hantavirus is typically contracted through inhaling contaminated materials from rodent excrement. It’s not very common on cruise ships, and human-to-human transmission is unusual. However, as WHO experts noted in an update, this particular outbreak might be the Andes variant, which is the only known strain that can spread between people. Further testing is ongoing in South Africa.
The virus poses a significant risk, particularly when people are cleaning spaces like homes, cabins, or sheds that may harbor rodent droppings.
Initially, hantavirus symptoms resemble those of the flu, quickly progressing to more severe issues. Symptoms can include fever, chills, and muscle aches, beginning one to eight weeks after exposure to an infected rodent. In severe cases, fluid accumulation in the lungs can lead to chest tightness.
In addition to respiratory issues, hantavirus can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, resulting in symptoms like bleeding, high fever, and potential kidney failure.
Globally, the virus is infrequent. In 2025, eight countries in the Americas reported 229 cases and 59 fatalities, according to the WHO.
Although there is currently no specific cure for hantavirus, timely medical intervention may improve survival odds. Continued research is essential to find potential treatments for this rare yet severe disease.
“In the Americas, hantavirus infection is very serious, but it’s also quite rare. And so for a time that probably led to less research into it because of funding priorities, but I know there’s been a lot of interest in funding hantavirus work of late,” remarked Steven Bradfute, associate professor and director at the Center for Global Health at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, which focuses on hantavirus studies.
