European Health Authorities Monitoring Andes Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship

European health authorities are closely monitoring an outbreak of Andes hantavirus linked to a cruise ship, with 11 cases reported and three deaths confirmed.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was notified on 2 May 2026 of a cluster of severe respiratory illness on board MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship with passengers and crew from 23 countries, including nine EU/EEA countries. As of 12 May, nine cases have been confirmed and two more are classified as probable.

The virus has been identified as Andes hantavirus, the only hantavirus known to spread between people. Such transmission is considered rare and typically requires close or prolonged contact with an infected person.

The current hypothesis is that at least one passenger was exposed in Argentina or Chile, where the Andes virus is endemic, before boarding the ship. Recent genetic sequencing strongly suggests that confirmed passenger samples are linked to the same original source of infection. The virus is similar to Andes strains already known to circulate in South America and is not a new variant. There is currently no evidence that it spreads more easily, or causes more severe disease, than other Andes viruses.

MV Hondius arrived at Tenerife in the Canary Islands on 10 May. Disembarkation and repatriation of passengers was completed on 11 May. ECDC had an expert on board from 6 May, with additional experts deployed through the EU Health Task Force on 9 May to provide technical and operational support to Spanish authorities.

At least 26 passengers are known to have disembarked at St. Helena and travelled back home or to other destinations. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has shared details with the relevant countries, and contact tracing is under way to ensure follow-up with those who may have been exposed.

ECDC has assessed the risk to the general population in the EU and EEA as very low. The Andes virus does not spread easily between people, and the rodents that carry it are native to South America and are not found in Europe.

There are no authorised vaccines or antiviral treatments for hantavirus. Clinical management relies on supportive care and timely access to critical care facilities. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has confirmed its Emergency Task Force stands ready to support the development and regulatory evaluation of vaccines and therapeutics for hantaviruses. EMA has now mapped developers of medicines, especially antivirals, monoclonal antibodies and vaccines against hantaviruses.

EMA has separately cautioned against misinformation circulating online that falsely links hantavirus infection to COVID-19 vaccination, stating there is no scientific evidence to support such claims.

Symptoms of Andes hantavirus infection can take up to two to eight weeks to appear after exposure.

Figures reflect the situation as reported by ECDC at 11:30 on 12 May 2026.