Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Hantavirus Sparks Global Alert As Countries Race To Trace Contacts; WHO Says Risk Low

Countries across Europe, Africa, and South America are tracing contacts of passengers linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship hantavirus outbreak after multiple deaths and suspected human-to-human infections raised global concern. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) says the risk of a Covid-like global spread remains low.

The latest hantavirus outbreak has so far infected eight people, including three deaths, among the 150 people aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.

The Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread from person to person, has been identified in two people who disembarked from the cruise ship.

While hantavirus carries a mortality rate of up to 40 percent, the WHO stated that the overall global risk remains low.

More than two dozen passengers left the ship before learning they may have been exposed to the virus. Countries are now tracing them to prevent potential spread to the general public. The virus can spread through close contact, as seen in the MV Hondius cases.

According to WHO official Shenaaz El-Halabi, authorities are tracing passengers linked to an international flight and the cruise ship, involving 16 countries and dozens of contacts.

More than 60 percent of identified contacts have already been followed up on, while investigations continue using epidemiological and laboratory data.

<h2>Hantavirus: A Look At Countries Tracing Contacts </h2>

At least 23 passengers from the hantavirus-affected MV Hondius cruise ship returned home, including several to the United States — and one of them has already fallen ill. 

The travelers reportedly did not know they had been exposed to the deadly virus when they disembarked during the ship’s stop at Saint Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic, on April 23. 

“There are 23 people wandering around there, and until three days ago, no one had contacted them,” a passenger still aboard the ship told the Spanish newspaper, El País. 

“The Australian went back to Australia, the one from Taiwan to Taiwan, the Americans to all corners of North America. The Englishman to England, the Dutch to their homes… I don’t remember the rest,” the passenger added.

People in at least three US states — Georgia, Arizona, and California — are being monitored for possible hantavirus exposure after the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, though none have shown symptoms, according to the New York Times.

The Georgia Department of Public Health said it is monitoring two residents who “are currently in good health and show no signs of infection.”

The Arizona Department of Health Services confirmed that one resident who traveled on the ship is being monitored and is not symptomatic.

“There is no information that California residents are ill or infected. At this time, the risk to public health in California is low,” Robert Barsanti, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health, said.

According to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), “Hantavirus is not spread by people without symptoms, transmission requires close contact, and the risk to the American public is very low.”

According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of MV Hondius, 19 passengers and four crew members aboard the ship were British nationals.

One of them, a 56-year-old British man, was among the three passengers evacuated from the ship on Wednesday and is reported to be in stable condition.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said two British nationals are self-isolating at home after potential exposure to hantavirus on the cruise ship. The pair had disembarked earlier in the voyage and currently shows no symptoms.

UKHSA said contacts linked to their return journey, including passengers on a flight from Johannesburg, are being traced. The agency added that the risk to the general public remains very low.

Swiss officials are tracing the contacts of a man hospitalized in Zurich with the Andes strain of hantavirus, according to reports. 

The patient became ill after returning from a three-week April cruise that traveled from the southern tip of South America to the South Atlantic island of St. Helena.

The authorities said the patient’s wife has not shown symptoms but is self-isolating as a precaution.

Health investigators in Argentina believe a Dutch couple may have brought the virus aboard after possibly contracting it through rodent exposure during a bird-watching tour near a landfill in Ushuaia days before the ship departed from Argentina on March 20. Both the husband and wife later died.

Argentina has one of the highest reported incidences of hantavirus in Latin America, according to the WHO. Authorities there are continuing efforts to trace the source of the outbreak.

The Argentine Health Ministry reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025 — roughly double the number reported during the previous year, according to The Guardian. 

Health Conditions A-Z

health

hantavirus

Andes strain of hantavirus

covid

mv hondius

oceanwide expeditions

jay bhattacharya

ukhsa

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Countries across Europe, Africa, and South America are tracing contacts of passengers linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship hantavirus outbreak after multiple deaths and suspected human-to-human infections raised global concern. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) says the risk of a Covid-like global spread remains low. The latest hantavirus outbreak has so far infected eight people, including three deaths, among the 150 people aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread from person to person, has been identified in two people who disembarked from the cruise ship. While hantavirus carries a mortality rate of up to 40 percent, the WHO stated that the overall global risk remains low. More than two dozen passengers left the ship before learning they may have been exposed to the virus. Countries are now tracing them to prevent potential spread to the general public. The virus can spread through close contact, as seen in the MV Hondius cases. According to WHO official Shenaaz El-Halabi, authorities are tracing passengers linked to an international flight and the cruise ship, involving 16 countries and dozens of contacts. More than 60 percent of identified contacts have already been followed up on, while investigations continue using epidemiological and laboratory data. Hantavirus: A Look At Countries Tracing Contacts USAt least 23 passengers from the hantavirus-affected MV Hondius cruise ship returned home, including several to the United States — and one of them has already fallen ill. The travelers reportedly did not know they had been exposed to the deadly virus when they disembarked during the ship’s stop at Saint Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic, on April 23. “There are 23 people wandering around there, and until three days ago, no one had contacted them,” a passenger still aboard the ship told the Spanish newspaper, El País. “The Australian went back to Australia, the one from Taiwan to Taiwan, the Americans to all corners of North America. The Englishman to England, the Dutch to their homes… I don’t remember the rest,” the passenger added. People in at least three US states — Georgia, Arizona, and California — are being monitored for possible hantavirus exposure after the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, though none have shown symptoms, according to the New York Times. The Georgia Department of Public Health said it is monitoring two residents who “are currently in good health and show no signs of infection.” The Arizona Department of Health Services confirmed that one resident who traveled on the ship is being monitored and is not symptomatic. “There is no information that California residents are ill or infected. At this time, the risk to public health in California is low,” Robert Barsanti, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health, said. According to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), “Hantavirus is not spread by people without symptoms, transmission requires close contact, and the risk to the American public is very low.” UKAccording to Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of MV Hondius, 19 passengers and four crew members aboard the ship were British nationals. One of them, a 56-year-old British man, was among the three passengers evacuated from the ship on Wednesday and is reported to be in stable condition. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said two British nationals are self-isolating at home after potential exposure to hantavirus on the cruise ship. The pair had disembarked earlier in the voyage and currently shows no symptoms. UKHSA said contacts linked to their return journey, including passengers on a flight from Johannesburg, are being traced. The agency added that the risk to the general public remains very low. SwitzerlandSwiss officials are tracing the contacts of a man hospitalized in Zurich with the Andes strain of hantavirus, according to reports. The patient became ill after returning from a three-week April cruise that traveled from the southern tip of South America to the South Atlantic island of St. Helena. The authorities said the patient’s wife has not shown symptoms but is self-isolating as a precaution. Argentina Health investigators in Argentina believe a Dutch couple may have brought the virus aboard after possibly contracting it through rodent exposure during a bird-watching tour near a landfill in Ushuaia days before the ship departed from Argentina on March 20. Both the husband and wife later died. Argentina has one of the highest reported incidences of hantavirus in Latin America, according to the WHO. Authorities there are continuing efforts to trace the source of the outbreak. The Argentine Health Ministry reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025 — roughly double the number reported during the previous year, according to The Guardian. 