Outbreak – WHO Monitors Hantavirus Cases Linked to Atlantic Cruise Voyage
Outbreak – The World Health Organization has confirmed several hantavirus infections connected to an expedition cruise ship travelling across the Atlantic, following multiple passenger deaths linked to the rare virus outbreak. Health authorities are continuing investigations while monitoring passengers and crew who may have been exposed during the voyage.
The vessel involved, the Dutch-registered Hondius, is currently sailing from Cape Verde toward Tenerife in Spain. According to the WHO, five infections have been laboratory confirmed, while three additional cases remain under investigation. Three passengers have died during the outbreak.
WHO Says Overall Public Health Threat Remains Limited
Speaking during a media briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the United Kingdom notified the organization after several passengers developed severe respiratory symptoms aboard the ship. Although officials described the incident as serious, the agency currently believes the broader international health risk remains low.
Health experts are continuing to assess the situation because the Andes strain involved in the outbreak is uncommon among hantaviruses. Most hantavirus infections occur after exposure to rodents or contaminated droppings, urine, or saliva. However, the Andes variant has previously demonstrated the ability to spread between humans under close-contact conditions.
Timeline of the Cruise Ship Infections
Investigators traced the earliest known illness to a male passenger who reportedly developed symptoms on April 6. He later died five days afterward. Officials said the initial death was not immediately connected to hantavirus because no diagnostic samples had been collected at the time, and the symptoms resembled other respiratory illnesses.
The passenger’s wife later became ill and died on April 25 while in Saint Helena. A third female passenger also died after experiencing symptoms for approximately one week before her death on May 2. Authorities are still examining possible transmission routes among the affected individuals.
Previous South America Travel Under Investigation
WHO officials revealed that the first two victims had recently joined a bird-watching tour through parts of South America, including Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, before boarding the cruise vessel. These regions are known habitats for rodents associated with the Andes hantavirus strain.
Argentine health authorities are now tracking the travelers’ movements to identify potential exposure points and determine whether additional contacts may require monitoring. The WHO also confirmed that Argentina is supplying approximately 2,500 testing kits to laboratories in five countries to strengthen regional surveillance efforts.
Monitoring Continues as Incubation Period Remains Active
Health officials cautioned that additional infections could still emerge because hantavirus symptoms may take several weeks to appear after exposure. WHO representatives noted that the incubation period can extend up to six weeks, leaving open the possibility of delayed diagnoses among passengers or close contacts.
International alerts have already been issued to 12 countries whose citizens disembarked in Saint Helena during the journey. Those nations include the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, and Singapore. Public health agencies in these countries are coordinating monitoring procedures and advising potentially exposed individuals to seek medical attention if symptoms develop.
Medical experts continue to emphasize that hantavirus infections remain relatively rare worldwide. Typical symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, and breathing difficulties, though severe cases can rapidly worsen. Authorities have advised passengers and healthcare providers to remain vigilant while investigations continue.