WHO Contacts 12 Countries Over Possible Hantavirus Exposure Linked to MV Hondius
Reflecto News | Breaking News | Global Health
GENEVA — The World Health Organization announced on Thursday that it has formally notified 12 countries that their nationals may have been exposed to the rare and deadly Andes hantavirus after disembarking from the MV Hondius cruise ship at the remote British island of St. Helena .
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the notification during a media briefing in Geneva, as international health authorities race to contain the outbreak that has now claimed three lives.
“Those 12 countries are Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.” — Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, and followed a route across the South Atlantic . The vessel carried 147 people — 88 passengers and 59 crew members — representing 23 nationalities .
The ship made multiple stops in remote and ecologically diverse regions, including mainland Antarctica, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, and Ascension Island .
The outbreak was first reported to WHO on May 2, 2026, when the United Kingdom’s National IHR Focal Point notified the agency of a cluster of severe acute respiratory illness aboard the vessel . As of May 4, WHO had recorded seven cases (two laboratory-confirmed hantavirus infections and five suspected cases) and three deaths .
Three suspected hantavirus patients have been medically evacuated from the ship and are being transported to the Netherlands for treatment . Two infectious disease specialists are traveling from the Netherlands to board the vessel to provide medical support .
The WHO currently assesses the overall public health risk from this event as low . However, the agency has emphasized that the Andes virus strain involved is capable of limited human-to-human transmission through close, prolonged contact — such as that which occurs among family members or individuals sharing cabins .
The St. Helena government has confirmed that there are currently no suspected or confirmed cases of hantavirus on the island . However, a small number of “higher risk” contacts have been advised to isolate at home for a period of 45 days from the last known exposure, which is set to end on June 9 .
The ship is currently en route to the Canary Islands, Spain, where it is expected to dock in the coming days. Spanish authorities have agreed to receive the vessel at the request of WHO and the European Union, and passengers will be medically screened upon arrival .
📋 Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Notification | WHO has formally contacted 12 countries about potential hantavirus exposure |
| Countries Notified | Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, USA |
| Vessel | MV Hondius (Dutch-flagged) |
| Current Status | En route to Canary Islands, Spain |
| Deaths | 3 confirmed fatalities |
| Evacuations | 3 suspected cases en route to Netherlands for treatment |
| Primary Risk | Andes virus strain (capable of limited human-to-human transmission) |
| Isolation Period | 45 days from last exposure (ends June 9 for St. Helena) |
| WHO Risk Assessment | Global public health risk remains low |
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