What is hantavirus and why has it claimed lives on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean? This has become breaking news creating global alarm after reports emerged of an emergency situation aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean involving an outbreak of "hantavirus" (Hantavirus), which has already caused multiple deaths. This underscores that this virus remains a serious and unpredictable threat.
On 3 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed concerning information about a suspected outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde in Africa. Key details are as follows:
Death toll: Three deaths have been confirmed. Previously, a spokesperson from South Africa's Ministry of Health reported at least two fatalities on the ship.
Infections: One confirmed positive case and five suspected cases pending test results.
Critical case: One British passenger is in serious condition and is currently being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Concerns about transmission: Although hantavirus normally spreads from rodents to humans, in rare cases it can "transmit from person to person," leading to severe respiratory illness. Authorities are closely monitoring this risk in the confined environment of the cruise ship.
Hantavirus is an RNA virus belonging to the Bunyavirus family. It usually resides harmlessly in rodents but causes two severe diseases when transmitted to humans:
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS): Common in Asia and Russia.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS): Characterized by fever and sudden pulmonary edema, often rapidly fatal, mostly found in the Americas.
Humans primarily contract hantavirus through two main ways:
Inhalation (primary): Breathing in aerosolized particles of rodent urine, saliva, or feces dispersed in the air.
Contact and ingestion: Virus enters through skin wounds, mucous membranes, or contaminated food and water.
Rodent bites: Transmission via rodent saliva, which is less common.
Observation: Past outbreaks mostly occurred in rural or farm areas, but the recent cruise ship case shows that enclosed spaces with shared ventilation can pose a risk if contaminated.
Hantavirus was first identified in 1993 in the United States. Initially mistaken for the plague due to rapid fatality, the CDC eventually recognized it as a new virus.
In Thailand, no severe cases or deaths have been reported so far. However, research shows that about 2.3-3.0% of rodents in Bangkok and other provinces carry hantavirus antibodies, indicating the virus is present in the environment, possibly as a less virulent strain or causing asymptomatic infections.
The MV Hondius incident is a global warning to enhance control of animal carriers on public transport and enclosed buildings. The best prevention is maintaining hygiene to keep rodents away from living spaces. When cleaning areas contaminated with rodent excreta, disinfectants should be sprayed, and masks worn to prevent inhaling infectious particles.