Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak: Lo Yi-chun Says Taiwan's Risk of Impact is Low
A fatal hantavirus outbreak, identified as the human-transmissible Andes virus strain, occurred on the cruise ship "Hondius." However, Taiwan's CDC Director Lo Yi-chun stated that this virus has never been detected in Taiwan, and Asia is not a distribution area for its vector rats, assessing the risk to Taiwan as low.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 21:53
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, 6th) The cruise ship "Hondius" has experienced a fatal hantavirus outbreak, with the human-transmissible Andes virus confirmed. Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Lo Yi-chun analyzed that this virus has never been detected in Taiwan, and Asia is not a distribution area for its vector rats, therefore assessing the risk of impact to Taiwan as low.
The Dutch luxury cruise ship "Hondius" recently experienced a hantavirus outbreak resulting in 3 deaths. South Africa's Ministry of Health today submitted a report to Parliament confirming that hantavirus was detected in two passengers, and it was the human-transmissible "Andes virus strain."
Minister Lo Yi-chun of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control stated today via text that the Andes virus belongs to the Hantaviridae family, Orthohantavirus genus. Besides being transmissible from rodents to humans, it also has human-to-human transmission capability. Infection typically manifests symptoms 2 to 4 weeks later, potentially causing pneumonia, severe cardiopulmonary disease, and even death, with a mortality rate of 30% to 40%.
Lo Yi-chun analyzed that this could explain why the number of cases and severity of illness are still increasing in this cruise ship incident. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant countries have intervened, hoping to quickly admit or settle travelers and staff on the cruise ship.
Regarding domestic risks, Lo Yi-chun pointed out that the Andes virus is prevalent only in South America (mainly Chile and Argentina) because its animal host, the "long-tailed rice rat," is distributed only in South America between 30 and 51 degrees south latitude. Annually, South America has about 100 to 200 human cases, and so far, only a very small number of travelers have been diagnosed after returning to Europe and America from South America.
For this cruise ship incident, Lo Yi-chun stated that it is likely the first cluster outside South America, but speculated that it might be related to close, prolonged contact and confined spaces on the cruise ship, as well as a higher number of elderly or chronic disease patients. Whether the virus was brought aboard by rodents or humans still requires investigation. The WHO has assessed the global spread risk as very low.
Lo Yi-chun explained that Taiwan's past hantavirus cases, whether indigenous or imported, have all been the less severe, lower mortality "Seoul virus," and the Andes virus has never been detected. Moreover, there have only been 2 imported cases in the past: 1 from China in 2007 and 1 from Indonesia in 2019, with none ever imported from South America.
Regarding vectors, Lo Yi-chun said that Asia is not a distribution area for the "long-tailed rice rat," so Taiwan does not need to worry about the Andes virus being transmitted from local rats to humans. The overall assessment is that the domestic risk of impact from the Andes virus is low. As for the threat of imported cases from South America, the CDC will continue to closely monitor and strengthen travel advisories for South America, urging people to avoid contact with rodents. The public can rest assured. (Edited by Li Shu-hua) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, 6th) The cruise ship "Hondius" has experienced a fatal hantavirus outbreak, with the human-transmissible Andes virus confirmed. Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Lo Yi-chun analyzed that this virus has never been detected in Taiwan, and Asia is not a distribution area for its vector rats, therefore assessing the risk of impact to Taiwan as low.
The Dutch luxury cruise ship "Hondius" recently experienced a hantavirus outbreak resulting in 3 deaths. South Africa's Ministry of Health today submitted a report to Parliament confirming that hantavirus was detected in two passengers, and it was the human-transmissible "Andes virus strain."
Minister Lo Yi-chun of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control stated today via text that the Andes virus belongs to the Hantaviridae family, Orthohantavirus genus. Besides being transmissible from rodents to humans, it also has human-to-human transmission capability. Infection typically manifests symptoms 2 to 4 weeks later, potentially causing pneumonia, severe cardiopulmonary disease, and even death, with a mortality rate of 30% to 40%.
Lo Yi-chun analyzed that this could explain why the number of cases and severity of illness are still increasing in this cruise ship incident. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant countries have intervened, hoping to quickly admit or settle travelers and staff on the cruise ship.
Regarding domestic risks, Lo Yi-chun pointed out that the Andes virus is prevalent only in South America (mainly Chile and Argentina) because its animal host, the "long-tailed rice rat," is distributed only in South America between 30 and 51 degrees south latitude. Annually, South America has about 100 to 200 human cases, and so far, only a very small number of travelers have been diagnosed after returning to Europe and America from South America.
For this cruise ship incident, Lo Yi-chun stated that it is likely the first cluster outside South America, but speculated that it might be related to close, prolonged contact and confined spaces on the cruise ship, as well as a higher number of elderly or chronic disease patients. Whether the virus was brought aboard by rodents or humans still requires investigation. The WHO has assessed the global spread risk as very low.
Lo Yi-chun explained that Taiwan's past hantavirus cases, whether indigenous or imported, have all been the less severe, lower mortality "Seoul virus," and the Andes virus has never been detected. Moreover, there have only been 2 imported cases in the past: 1 from China in 2007 and 1 from Indonesia in 2019, with none ever imported from South America.
Regarding vectors, Lo Yi-chun said that Asia is not a distribution area for the "long-tailed rice rat," so Taiwan does not need to worry about the Andes virus being transmitted from local rats to humans. The overall assessment is that the domestic risk of impact from the Andes virus is low. As for the threat of imported cases from South America, the CDC will continue to closely monitor and strengthen travel advisories for South America, urging people to avoid contact with rodents. The public can rest assured. (Edited by Li Shu-hua) 1150506
Stand with the facts; every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" App to stay updated with the latest news.
Unauthorized reproduction, public broadcast, public transmission, or utilization of the text, images, and videos on this website is prohibited.