Cruise-linked reported cases
11
MV Hondius cluster reported by WHO. WHO, May 12, 2026
Last verified: May 13, 2026Hantavirus
Hantavirus
Tracker
This hantavirus tracker provides live verified outbreak data — case counts, deaths, outbreak locations, symptoms, prevention guidance, and official WHO/CDC public-health sources. The hantavirus tracker keeps headline counts separate from regional context so readers can verify each figure quickly.
Global public riskLowWHO assessment, May 12, 2026
Confirmed strainAndes virusSA NICD, May 6, 2026
Active clusterMV HondiusMulti-country investigation
Hantavirus tracker — live data as of May 13, 2026
Confirmed Andes cases
9
Confirmed as Andes virus. WHO, May 12, 2026
Deaths
3
Fatal outcomes confirmed in cluster. WHO, May 12, 2026
Countries involved
23
Passenger and crew nationalities represented. ECDC, May 11, 2026
Global public risk
Low
No sign of a larger outbreak. WHO, May 12, 2026
Virus strain
Andes
Only hantavirus known for human-to-human spread. SA NICD, May 6, 2026
US historical cases
890
Cumulative confirmed US cases. CDC, Apr. 23, 2026
Argentina cases (2025–26)
101
Infections since June 2025 — 2× prior year. Argentina Health Ministry
Hantavirus tracker outbreak summary
This hantavirus tracker is monitoring the cruise-linked cluster — a Dutch-flagged expedition vessel that departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, 2026 for an Antarctic and South Atlantic wildlife voyage. As of May 12, WHO reports eleven cases — nine confirmed as Andes virus and two probable — and three deaths. South Africa's NICD identified the Andes hantavirus strain, the only known hantavirus capable of human-to-human transmission. On May 10, the ship arrived at Tenerife and passengers began screening, repatriation, and monitoring or isolation. On May 12, Oceanwide reported 122 passengers and crew repatriated, with 27 people still aboard as the vessel travels to Rotterdam for disinfection and monitoring. WHO assesses global public risk as low and says there is no sign of a larger outbreak.
Argentina reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025 — roughly twice the prior-year rate — highlighting the endemic context in which the vessel's index case likely contracted the virus. This hantavirus tracker separates reported cases from confirmed cases and links each figure to its primary source. The hantavirus tracker also preserves historical and endemic context without mixing those figures into the active outbreak count.
DETAILED TIMELINE
Latest hantavirus tracker timeline
The homepage keeps only the latest 5 events so the tracker stays scannable. The full timeline keeps the complete vessel itinerary, case reports, WHO notifications, testing, evacuation, and contact tracing.
WHO UPDATE
WHO reports 11 cases, 9 confirmed Andes virus
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reports eleven MV Hondius cases, including three deaths. Nine of the eleven are confirmed as Andes virus and the other two are probable; WHO says global risk remains low and there is no sign of a larger outbreak.
REPATRIATION
Final passengers repatriated; vessel heads to Rotterdam
Oceanwide Expeditions says 122 passengers and crew have been repatriated, with 27 people remaining on board as the vessel continues toward Rotterdam for disinfection and monitoring under Dutch public-health oversight. A Spanish passenger is confirmed positive while 13 other suspected Madrid cases test negative.
ECDC UPDATE
ECDC updates cluster to 9 cases, 7 confirmed
ECDC reports nine total cases as of 14:00 on May 11: seven confirmed and two probable, with three deaths. The agency assesses risk to the EU/EEA general population as very low.
CONFIRMED
US and French evacuees test positive during repatriation
A French passenger evacuated to Paris tests positive and is reported in serious condition. A US passenger flown to Nebraska tests positive for Andes virus but is asymptomatic; another American has mild symptoms. WHO-linked public-health advice continues to emphasize 42 days of active follow-up after last exposure.
RESPONSE
UK passengers enter isolation at Arrowe Park
A repatriation flight brings 20 British passengers plus two additional residents or travellers to Manchester. They enter isolation and medical assessment at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral after testing negative before departure from Tenerife.
Latest hantavirus tracker updates
This hantavirus tracker indexes source-linked updates from WHO and CDC — official sources prioritised over unverified reports. Each hantavirus tracker update links back to the source used for the displayed count or status.
WHO reports 11 cases; final passengers repatriated
WHO's May 12 briefing reports eleven cases in total, including nine confirmed as Andes virus and two probable, with three deaths. Oceanwide reports that 122 passengers and crew have been repatriated, while 27 people remain on board as the vessel continues to Rotterdam for disinfection and monitoring.
French and US evacuees test positive for hantavirus
A French passenger evacuated from Tenerife to Paris tested positive and was reported in serious condition. US officials said one American evacuee tested positive for the Andes strain while asymptomatic, and another had mild symptoms. Repatriation and 42-day monitoring continue.
UK cruise passengers enter isolation facility after repatriation
A Titan Airways flight brought UK-linked passengers from Tenerife to Manchester, after which they entered isolation and assessment at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral. UK authorities said the public risk remains low while monitoring continues.
MV Hondius reaches Tenerife and passenger evacuation begins
The ship arrived in the Canary Islands in the early hours of Sunday carrying 146 people. Spanish passengers were screened and taken off first, with repatriation flights planned for other countries. Passengers are being asked to isolate or remain under monitoring for 42 days after last potential exposure.
CDC flying ~17 American passengers to Nebraska quarantine unit
CDC dispatched staff to Tenerife to escort all American passengers home on a charter flight to the US. Nebraska Medicine's National Quarantine Unit — a federally funded facility — is prepared to receive and monitor them. All Americans on board are reported well with no current symptoms.
Spain approves MV Hondius docking at Tenerife on May 10
Spain's health agency approved the ship docking at Granadilla (Tenerife) despite strong objections from the Canary Islands regional president, citing international law and humanitarian principles. The vessel is expected to arrive in the early hours of Sunday May 10. Passengers will likely disembark before Tuesday due to worsening coastal weather.
WHO updates cluster to 8 cases: 6 confirmed, 2 probable
WHO's latest Disease Outbreak News reports eight total cases, including six laboratory-confirmed Andes virus infections and two probable cases. Three deaths have been reported, the case fatality ratio is 38%, global risk is low, and risk for passengers and crew is moderate.
KLM flight attendant tests negative; 6 US states monitoring passengers
A KLM flight attendant hospitalised after contact with a deceased hantavirus patient has tested negative. WHO notes the long incubation period means ongoing monitoring is needed. In the US, at least 6 states are now monitoring disembarked passengers — including 2 residents in New Jersey.
WHO response: 8 hantavirus cases linked to MV Hondius, risk low
WHO reports eight cases (five confirmed), three deaths, and assesses the risk to the general public as low. 2,500 diagnostic kits were arranged from Argentina for laboratories in five countries.
South Africa confirms Andes hantavirus — the strain capable of human-to-human spread
South Africa's NICD identifies Andes hantavirus in two cruise passengers, confirming the only known hantavirus strain with documented human-to-human transmission.
WHO DON599: Hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship travel, multi-country
First formal Disease Outbreak News: seven cases (two confirmed, five suspected), three deaths. WHO describes ongoing contact tracing across multiple countries.
12 countries monitoring passengers — US, UK, Singapore among them
Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, and Saint Kitts and Nevis all actively monitoring disembarked passengers.
CDC US hantavirus case data: 890 cumulative cases
CDC lists 890 cumulative US cases, noting hantavirus pulmonary syndrome carries a high case fatality rate. No current US outbreak linked to the cruise cluster.
Hantavirus tracker regions and watch areas
Hantavirus tracker regional rows use official sources. Endemic rows provide disease-context coverage without inflating active case counts.
| Region | Status | Cases | Deaths / CFR | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MV Hondius cluster (multi-country) | Active | 11 (9 confirmed, 2 probable) | 3 | Andes virus strain. Ship arrived at Granadilla, Tenerife on May 10; final passengers were repatriated by May 12, with 27 people remaining aboard as the vessel heads to Rotterdam for disinfection and monitoring. | WHO / Oceanwide, May 12, 2026 |
| Argentina | Watch | 101 (since June 2025) | ~35% CFR historically | Hantavirus endemic. 101 infections since June 2025 — roughly twice the caseload of the prior year. Leading hypothesis links the cruise index case to Argentina. | Argentina Health Ministry |
| United States | Historical | 890 cumulative | ~35% case fatality (CDC) | CDC reports cases across many states, mostly rodent-exposure-linked hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. No current outbreak. | CDC, Apr. 23, 2026 |
| Europe (N. & Central) | Endemic | Several thousand/year | <1–12% CFR (HFRS) | Puumala and Dobrava viruses cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Finland, Sweden, Germany among highest burden countries. | WHO fact sheet |
| China & East Asia | Endemic | ~10,000–100,000/year globally | <1–15% CFR (HFRS) | China and Republic of Korea account for the majority of global HFRS burden. Hantaan and Seoul viruses are predominant strains. | WHO / PMC review |
| South Africa | Watch | 3 confirmed (cruise-linked) | 1 | No endemic presence. First known hantavirus cases on the African continent — all linked to MV Hondius passengers. NICD confirmed Andes virus by PCR. | SA NICD / SAnews |
| Americas (broader) | Watch | Varies by country | Up to 50% CFR (HPS) | Most hantavirus infections in the Americas present as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay also report endemic cases. | WHO fact sheet |
Hantavirus tracker symptoms, transmission, and prevention
Medical guidance tied to official WHO and CDC sources, included so the hantavirus tracker can connect outbreak data with basic prevention guidance.
Early symptoms
Fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, dizziness, and chills typically appear 1–8 weeks after exposure. Gastrointestinal symptoms are also reported.
Read hantavirus symptoms guideSevere disease
HPS (Americas): rapid breathing difficulty and fluid in the lungs. HFRS (Europe/Asia): kidney complications, haemorrhage. Case fatality up to 50% for HPS in the Americas.
Compare symptom patternsTransmission
Primarily through infected rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or contaminated dust. Andes virus is the only strain with documented human-to-human spread, rare and limited.
Read transmission guidePrevention
Avoid rodent-contaminated areas; ventilate closed spaces before cleanup; wet contaminated surfaces with disinfectant before sweeping. Follow local health department guidance.
Read prevention guideTreatment
No specific antiviral treatment or vaccine exists. Supportive care — particularly respiratory support for HPS and renal support for HFRS — is the standard approach.
Read hantavirus wikiWhen to seek care
Seek immediate medical attention if fever, muscle pain, or breathing difficulty develop after possible rodent exposure or contact with confirmed cases. Inform clinicians of travel history.
When symptoms matterHantavirus tracker frequently asked questions
Short answers for hantavirus tracker, outbreak, symptoms, and safety searches.
What is the latest hantavirus tracker update?
As of May 13, 2026, the latest WHO briefing reports eleven cases in total (nine confirmed as Andes virus and two probable) and three deaths linked to the MV Hondius cruise investigation. Final passenger repatriation was reported on May 12, with 27 people remaining aboard as the vessel travels to Rotterdam for disinfection and monitoring. WHO says global risk remains low and there is no sign of a larger outbreak.
What are the main hantavirus symptoms?
Early symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, and dizziness. Severe illness can progress to breathing difficulty (hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, HPS) or kidney failure (hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, HFRS) depending on the strain.
Can hantavirus spread person to person?
Most hantaviruses do not spread between people. Andes virus — the strain confirmed in the MV Hondius cluster — is the only known exception, with documented but limited human-to-human transmission in South America.
How does hantavirus spread from rodents?
Hantavirus spreads through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or contaminated dust. Breathing disturbed dust from rodent nests is the primary infection route.
Is this an official public-health advisory?
No. Hantavirus Tracker is an independent public-information site. All data is sourced from WHO, CDC, and official health agencies. Follow those organisations for official guidance.
Why do reported and confirmed case counts differ?
Reported counts include suspected or epidemiologically linked cases. Confirmed counts require laboratory evidence (such as PCR). This tracker separates both and links each figure to its source.
What is the MV Hondius?
MV Hondius is a Dutch-flagged expedition vessel operated by Oceanwide Expeditions. It departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, 2026 on an Antarctic and South Atlantic wildlife voyage. WHO reported 147 passengers and crew onboard when the cluster was notified on May 2, with 34 people having previously disembarked.
Which countries are monitoring hantavirus cases from the cruise ship?
As of May 7, 2026, at least 12 countries are actively monitoring passengers who disembarked the MV Hondius: Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Hantavirus tracker source methodology
This hantavirus tracker uses official public-health sources first. Reported, suspected, confirmed, and historical values are never merged into a single number. Each figure is linked to its primary source. Unverified social-media claims are excluded until an official or high-confidence source confirms them. The hantavirus tracker is updated only when source-linked information changes.