Topline
The evacuation of passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which is dealing with a hantavirus outbreak, is set to take place soon. This operation will be closely monitored by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization. He indicated that passengers will be sent back to their home countries under strict supervision.
Timeline
Ghebreyesus issued a detailed statement about his upcoming trip to Tenerife to oversee the planned evacuation of Hondius passengers, all of whom are currently asymptomatic.
Passengers will be transported to the airport in controlled vehicles, as mentioned by Ghebreyesus.
According to an unnamed Canarias Region government official, passengers will don full protective gear, with those not ready for travel remaining on the ship.
The first group to be transferred will include fourteen passengers from Spain.
Reports indicated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention activated a level three emergency response regarding the outbreak on the cruise ship, involving their disease experts and potential emergency staff.
Other reports noted that around 17 Americans onboard would be taken via charter flight to a National Quarantine Unit in Omaha.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill mentioned two residents are being monitored for possible exposure after contact with an infected passenger who disembarked the ship.
A 32-year-old woman in Spain, who flew with a confirmed hantavirus patient, is now showing symptoms of the disease, increasing the total number of confirmed and suspected cases to nine.
Two Singaporean residents from the cruise ship tested negative for the virus after sharing a plane with an infected person.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo announced that the MV Hondius would not dock but would anchor off-shore until evacuation arrangements are finalized. The WHO confirmed that no one still on the ship is symptomatic as of Friday.
U.K. health officials confirmed a new suspected case linked to the cruise ship involving a British man in Tristan da Cunha.
The WHO verified that a KLM flight attendant, who was isolating in Amsterdam after contact with a hantavirus patient, tested negative for the virus.
President Donald Trump commented that the outbreak is largely under control and expressed hope there would be no cause for concern among Americans.
Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, from the Infectious Diseases Society of America, stated the U.S. is not adequately prepared for a hantavirus outbreak due to previous funding cuts.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the cruise, reported that at least 29 passengers had left the ship and returned home before the outbreak was confirmed. They hailed from several countries including Canada, Germany, and the United States.
Dr. Ghebreyesus also noted that some passengers had shared an airplane with a deceased woman from the cruise.
He asserted that while there are currently no symptomatic cases aboard the MV Hondius, it is possible that more cases will emerge, but maintained that the public health risk remains low.
A flight attendant from the Netherlands is undergoing testing after showing mild symptoms post-contact with an infected individual.
Scientists are reportedly working on developing a vaccine for hantavirus.
It was reported that Luis Rodríguez, an American public health official focusing on cruise ships, is set to retire amidst the outbreak.
Maria Van Kerkhove from WHO mentioned that while it is not a major concern like COVID, hantavirus is still a serious infectious disease.
Confirmed cases of hantavirus infections have now reached five, with at least three more suspected cases among passengers and crew.
Argentine authorities speculate that the outbreak could have originated from a landfill visit prior to boarding the cruise, where guests may have encountered rodent carriers.
Health officials confirmed that the hantavirus outbreak is of the Andes strain, known for being particularly deadly and transmissible between individuals.
Spanish health minister Monica Garcia stated that the MV Hondius will soon allow passengers to disembark in Tenerife, with Spanish residents facing a period of quarantine.
Three individuals, including two in serious condition, were airlifted from the MV Hondius for medical treatment in the Netherlands.
A man returning to Switzerland after a previous voyage on the ship has been hospitalized with a variant of hantavirus.
Tests confirmed that infected passengers aboard the MV Hondius were affected by the Andes virus, with a notable fatality rate.
WHO confirmed cases of hantavirus aboard the ship, with two confirmed and multiple suspected cases.
Authorities in Cape Verde denied the MV Hondius permission to dock at the port of Praia in an effort to maintain public health safety.
A German woman passed away aboard the MV Hondius. Her body has yet to be tested for the virus.
A British passenger was evacuated to South Africa after being diagnosed with hantavirus.
The wife of the previous victim also died in South Africa shortly after disembarking the ship.
A 70-year-old Dutch passenger passed away onboard, with his cause of death still under investigation.
The MV Hondius set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina.
Crucial Quote
“It’s been quite a mammoth effort,” stated professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at the UK Health Security Agency, regarding the contact tracing of passengers from the ship. “We will continue to do that if other information arises.”
Where Is The MV Hondius?
As of Friday morning, the ship is off the coast of Morocco en route to the Canary Islands, with passengers currently isolating in their cabins and medical teams aboard in protective gear.
Big Number
Almost 150 individuals are currently onboard the MV Hondius, representing 23 different countries, including 17 Americans.
Who Are The Hantavirus Patients?
- Suspected case: A 70-year-old Dutch man died aboard the MV Hondius on April 11. Hantavirus wasn’t initially suspected, but he is now believed to be the first case.
- Confirmed case: His 69-year-old wife died shortly thereafter; later tests confirmed she had the Andes strain of hantavirus.
- Suspected case: A German woman also died on the ship on May 2, though her cause remains untested.
- Confirmed case: A British expedition guide was evacuated after showing symptoms and was later confirmed to have the Andes virus.
- Confirmed case: A Dutch passenger was evacuated to the Netherlands for medical attention.
- Confirmed case: A Swiss man who had disembarked during a stop tested positive for the Andes strain after returning home.
- Suspected case: A British man on Tristan da Cunha is suspected to have hantavirus related to the cruise.
- Suspected case: A woman in Spain is being tested after flying with an infected individual.
- Tested negative: A KLM flight attendant showed symptoms but has tested negative for hantavirus.
What Happens To People Who May Have Been Exposed To Andes Hantavirus?
WHO Technical Officer Anaïs Legand explained that efforts are underway to identify anyone who may have come into contact with infected individuals. Each person will be evaluated for their risk level and receive a corresponding action plan that includes daily health checks for 42 days.
Key Background
The MV Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, with plans to visit various remote islands, but was later denied docking permission in Cape Verde due to health concerns. Spanish officials later agreed to allow docking in Tenerife for passenger disembarkation.
Tangent
A passenger from the MV Hondius expressed dissatisfaction with the cruise operator’s communication regarding health risks after the initial death on board, saying that safety precautions were not emphasized adequately.
What Is The Andes Hantavirus?
The Andes strain is the only known hantavirus capable of human-to-human transmission. Typically, hantavirus is contracted through contact with infected rodents, but no such reports have emerged from the MV Hondius. The strain is prevalent in South America, and close contact during early phases of illness increases transmission risk. Symptoms might take days or even weeks to appear, but according to the CDC, the risk to the general population remains low.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hantavirus?
Hantavirus can lead to two types of diseases. One, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, primarily affects individuals in the Western Hemisphere, causing fatigue, fever, muscle pains, and respiratory issues, among other signs. The mortality rate can be significant, reaching 38% among those who exhibit respiratory symptoms. The second type primarily shows renal symptoms affecting a range of organs. The severity depends on the strain.
How Is Hantavirus Treated?
Currently, there is no specific treatment for hantavirus infections. Patients receive supportive care based on their symptoms, but claims that specific medications can treat hantavirus remain unproven.
Surprising Fact
The wife of actor Gene Hackman passed away from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in February 2025, making headlines given her public profile.
