Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship nears Canary Islands with six confirmed cases

A hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has infected at least six people, killing three, as the vessel prepares to dock in Spain’s Canary Islands for evacuation, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Finnish health authorities.

All confirmed and suspected cases—six lab-confirmed and eight under investigation—are linked to the MV Hondius, which departed Argentina for Antarctica in late April. The ship made stops at remote islands during its voyage, and several passengers and crew fell ill en route. A full evacuation of the roughly 140 people on board is planned upon arrival, though no one currently shows symptoms, authorities said.

The WHO identified the strain as Andes hantavirus, a type carried by rodents in South America, but assessed the global risk to the public as low. The virus spreads primarily through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, though rare person-to-person transmission has been documented in past outbreaks.

Finnish health officials reported two Finnish passengers may have been exposed after sharing a flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam on April 25 with a later-confirmed case. The individuals have been instructed to monitor for symptoms—such as fever, muscle pain, and respiratory distress—and seek medical care if they appear.

In response, Finland’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is drafting legislative changes to classify Andes hantavirus as a “generally hazardous communicable disease.” This would enable quarantine measures and sick leave compensation for affected individuals. The WHO reiterated that the outbreak poses minimal broader risk, citing contained transmission and swift evacuation protocols.