The World Health Organization announced the end of the hantavirus outbreak linked to the spread of the virus on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which caused three deaths several months ago.
On Thursday, 2 July 2026, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated that the hantavirus outbreak among passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship has ended after the last close contact completed quarantine and tested negative.
Dr. Ghebreyesus added that no new cases had been reported since 25 May, and WHO considers this hantavirus outbreak officially over.
This outbreak resulted in 13 infections and 3 deaths. The virus strain identified was the Andes virus, a rare hantavirus strain.
The MV Hondius cruise ship departed from Argentina on 1 April. WHO noted that the first two infected individuals had traveled through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay for birdwatching activities, including visits to areas inhabited by rodent species carrying the virus.
Public health experts believe person-to-person transmission through close contact may have occurred during this outbreak.
On the past Thursday, WHO revealed that officials in 33 countries and territories identified and monitored over 650 close contacts. The last close contact of the infected individuals on the MV Hondius completed quarantine with a negative test result and has safely returned home.
The organization will continue to collaborate with governments and partners to improve understanding of this outbreak and hantavirus information overall.
Normally, hantavirus spreads from rodents, such as mice, to humans through inhalation of airborne particles contaminated with virus from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.
Symptoms may include fever, severe fatigue, muscle aches, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. Symptoms usually appear 2 to 4 weeks after exposure but can take over a month to manifest, explaining the extended quarantine period recommended for passengers.
Passengers not requiring medical evacuation disembarked at Tenerife Island, Spain, in May before flying back to their home countries.
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Source:bbc