Health authorities are tracing passengers who disembarked from the expedition vessel MV Hondius after a cluster of hantavirus infections and several deaths were linked to the voyage.
The incident has prompted international coordination and heightened surveillance, but agencies including the World Health Organization say the risk to the general public remains low.
As of May 7, 2026, the MV Hondius left its anchorage off Praia, Cape Verde, on May 6 after four days there, following evacuations of ill passengers. It is now underway off West Africa.
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Cases on Cruise Ship
The Dutch‑flagged MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April and called at remote ports including Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and St Helena before reaching the South Atlantic and Atlantic islands.
Health authorities from several countries and the WHO have reported multiple suspected and laboratory‑confirmed hantavirus infections associated with the voyage.
Media and official statements indicate at least eight people are believed to have been infected and three passengers have died; public reports state at least two of the deaths have been linked to hantavirus and investigations are ongoing into the third fatality.
Around 150 passengers and crew from more than 20 countries remain on board; others disembarked earlier and have travelled to their home countries.
What hantavirus is and why this matters
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses primarily carried by wild rodents. Humans most commonly become infected through inhalation of dust contaminated by rodent urine, droppings or saliva.
In the Americas, certain “New World” hantaviruses like Andes virus can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory condition that may lead to respiratory failure.
Most hantavirus infections begin with non‑specific, flu‑like symptoms such as fever, headache and muscle aches. In some patients the illness can progress rapidly to breathing difficulties and shock. There is no widely available vaccine or specific antiviral treatment; care is supportive and may include intensive respiratory support.
Andes virus is a specific type of hantavirus found in South America, known for causing severe Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) with a 20-40% mortality rate. It is unique among hantaviruses for being the only one known to spread from person-to-person through close contact, in addition to transmission via rodent droppings.
What the investigations show so far
Public health investigations and laboratory testing are ongoing. As of 8 May, WHO and national authorities reported a mix of laboratory‑confirmed and suspected cases linked to the MV Hondius; counts reported in the media have changed as new confirmations were made (always refer to the latest news report for accurate count).
Authorities are investigating whether infections resulted from exposure to infected rodents before or during the voyage, or from limited person‑to‑person transmission. WHO has said person‑to‑person spread appears possible and is being investigated, but definitive proof for transmission chains in this outbreak had not been published as of 8 May.
A complicating factor is incubation time. For Andes and other New World hantaviruses the incubation period can extend to several weeks. That makes it harder to pinpoint when and where infections occurred and means new cases among disembarked passengers could still be reported.
Singapore tested two residents and other confirmed cases
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that five of eight suspected cases connected to the ship have been laboratory confirmed so far, with investigations continuing for the remainder. Separate national authorities report confirmed and probable infections in several countries, and evacuated patients are receiving care in different hospitals.
Singapore’s Communicable Diseases Agency has isolated and tested two residents who travelled on the MV Hondius. Both are currently at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, one is asymptomatic and the other has a runny nose. Singaporean health officials say the risk to the general public is low; if tests are negative the men will quarantine for 30 days from last exposure, and if positive they will remain hospitalised.
Several other countries are monitoring and isolating returned passengers. Swiss authorities reported a patient receiving treatment in Zurich after testing positive; US and UK agencies have identified and are following up contacts in multiple states and regions. In the Netherlands, three medically evacuated patients — including a doctor and two passengers — are being treated. Dutch authorities also report a woman in Amsterdam who was not on the ship is being tested after developing symptoms; a positive result could indicate onward spread beyond travellers linked directly to the MV Hondius.
Tracing disembarked passengers
Authorities worldwide are tracing dozens of passengers who disembarked from the Hondius before isolation measures were put in place.
Oceanwide Expeditions has confirmed that 29 passengers disembarked at St Helena on 24 April; these travellers came from a range of countries and most are reported to have returned home. National health agencies are contacting those passengers and monitoring or quarantining them as a precaution.
WHO officials have emphasised that while the incident is serious, it does not resemble the scale of Covid‑19. “This is not the start of an epidemic. This is not the start of a pandemic,” WHO epidemic and pandemic preparedness director Maria Van Kerkhove stated in briefings, and the organisation continued to assess the public‑health risk as low while investigations continue.
Malaysian official statement
The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has said it is monitoring reports about the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius and reassured the public that no Malaysians were on board.
Following direct contact with Singapore health authorities, MOH said two Singaporean crew members linked to the ship have tested negative for hantavirus and are part of ongoing contact‑tracing efforts. The ministry will continue to monitor developments at regional and global levels to ensure border preparedness and national health‑system readiness.
MOH reiterated that hantavirus is a rodent‑borne infection transmitted mainly through inhalation of air contaminated with rodent droppings, urine or saliva. The ministry noted that hantavirus pulmonary syndrome can be severe, with published reports indicating high case‑fatality rates for some New World hantaviruses. With no specific antiviral treatment available, MOH emphasised prevention and pest control as the main defences, urged calm vigilance, and recommended following official guidance.
What this means for the public
For people not connected to the voyage, the risk remains low. Hantavirus is generally not spread through casual contact and is far less contagious than many common respiratory viruses.
If you were a passenger or close contact of a passenger on the MV Hondius, follow instructions from your local health authority. Seek testing if you develop symptoms such as fever, muscle aches or new breathing problems, and comply with recommended quarantine or monitoring periods.
Treatment, prevention and public‑health response
There is no widely available vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus infection. Medical care is supportive; severe cases often require close respiratory support in hospital.
Prevention focuses on avoiding exposure to rodents and their waste: good food storage, rodent control, safe cleaning of enclosed spaces and good ventilation.
Public‑health responses centre on rapid case identification, laboratory confirmation, contact tracing and isolation where necessary.
What remains unknown
Key unresolved questions include the precise source of each infection, whether person‑to‑person transmission occurred on the ship, and whether additional cases will be identified among disembarked passengers given the virus’s long incubation period.
Investigators are continuing laboratory work, contact tracing and epidemiological analysis; genomic sequencing, if made available publicly, could clarify transmission chains.
This incident is an example of how an uncommon but serious infection can pose practical challenges when it affects international travellers in confined settings. For now, the response is focused on identifying exposed people, confirming cases, and limiting further spread. Authorities emphasise measured vigilance and evidence‑based public‑health action rather than alarm as investigations proceed.
The post Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship Prompts Global Tracing While Officials Stress Low Public Risk first appeared on PP Health Malaysia.
