Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship: WHO States First Deceased Infected Before Boarding
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the first fatality from the Hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius was infected before boarding. Due to the incubation period of 1 to 6 weeks, infection during the voyage was deemed impossible. The virus is primarily transmitted from rodents through urine and feces, with human-to-human transmission being rare but confirmed for specific strains. Three deaths have been reported so far, with other infected individuals receiving treatment.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 09:24
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Geneva, 6th comprehensive foreign report) World Health Organization (WHO) experts told Agence France-Presse today that the first case of Hantavirus on the cruise ship "MV Hondius" could not have been contracted during the voyage.
The polar expedition cruise ship departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, crossed the Atlantic to Cape Verde, and arrived on the 3rd, with approximately 150 passengers and crew on board.
Hantavirus
Hantavirus belongs to the Bunyaviridae family. Currently, through genetic sequencing or serological testing, Hantavirus can be classified into more than 20 different types, distributed in different geographical areas, each with its unique rodent host.
Transmission Route
Transmitted by inhaling droplets of rodent secretions through the respiratory tract. The virus is present in the urine, feces, and saliva of infected but asymptomatic rodents, with high concentrations of the virus found in the lungs. Humans become infected by inhaling or coming into contact with virus-contaminated air particles, pollutants, or by being bitten by virus-carrying rodents.
Currently, human-to-human transmission of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome caused by Andes virus has only been found in Argentina and Chile, possibly related to prolonged or close contact with symptomatic individuals; for other Hantavirus types, no human-to-human transmission cases have been reported so far.
Symptoms
Hantavirus Hemorrhagic Fever: Fever, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure are the three major clinical manifestations. Symptoms usually appear suddenly, including fever lasting 3 to 8 days, conjunctival congestion, weakness, back pain, headache, abdominal pain, anorexia, and vomiting. Hemorrhagic symptoms appear on days 3 to 6 and may progress to acute renal failure, lasting for several weeks.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, and severe muscle pain, accompanied by headache and stomach discomfort. Cough and shortness of breath usually appear 4 to 10 days after onset. Once cardiac and pulmonary discomfort symptoms appear, respiratory failure and shock may quickly follow.
Prevention Methods
Strengthen rodent control. Environmental cleaning should be enhanced in residences and various public places, including restaurants, hotels, snack stalls, markets, and food factories, to eliminate rodents from buildings and implement rodent prevention measures. Once signs of rodents are found, rodent extermination should be initiated immediately.
Source: CDC
Among the 8 confirmed and suspected cases, a 70-year-old Dutch passenger was the first to develop symptoms.
WHO stated that he began to experience symptoms such as fever, headache, and mild diarrhea on April 6, developed respiratory distress on April 11, and died on board that day.
Anais Legand, a WHO expert on viral hemorrhagic fevers, told Agence France-Presse: "The time from infection to symptom onset, i.e., the incubation period, ranges from 1 to 6 weeks, but is usually closer to 2 to 3 weeks."
Therefore, the first case "could not have been infected on board the ship, or on any island where it stopped during the voyage."
She stated that the man "was very clearly exposed to the virus before boarding," and it was "almost certainly related to rodents."
Among the 3 deceased, only the 69-year-old wife of the Dutch man has so far been confirmed positive for Hantavirus.
She developed gastrointestinal symptoms on April 24 when she disembarked with her husband's body on the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, and then flew to Johannesburg on April 25, dying the next day.
The third deceased was a German passenger, suspected to have died from Hantavirus on board on May 2.
Two other patients who were on the ship are currently receiving treatment in hospitals in Johannesburg and Zurich, both testing positive; three other suspected cases have been evacuated from the cruise ship and sent to the Netherlands.
The cruise ship, which had been docked in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, since the 3rd, departed today for the Canary Islands, Spain.
Hantavirus is usually transmitted by infected rodents, mainly through the spread of urine, excrement, and saliva. (Compiled by Hsu Jui-cheng) 1150507
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(Central News Agency, Geneva, 6th comprehensive foreign report) World Health Organization (WHO) experts told Agence France-Presse today that the first case of Hantavirus on the cruise ship "MV Hondius" could not have been contracted during the voyage.
The polar expedition cruise ship departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, crossed the Atlantic to Cape Verde, and arrived on the 3rd, with approximately 150 passengers and crew on board.
Hantavirus
Hantavirus belongs to the Bunyaviridae family. Currently, through genetic sequencing or serological testing, Hantavirus can be classified into more than 20 different types, distributed in different geographical areas, each with its unique rodent host.
Transmission Route
Transmitted by inhaling droplets of rodent secretions through the respiratory tract. The virus is present in the urine, feces, and saliva of infected but asymptomatic rodents, with high concentrations of the virus found in the lungs. Humans become infected by inhaling or coming into contact with virus-contaminated air particles, pollutants, or by being bitten by virus-carrying rodents.
Currently, human-to-human transmission of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome caused by Andes virus has only been found in Argentina and Chile, possibly related to prolonged or close contact with symptomatic individuals; for other Hantavirus types, no human-to-human transmission cases have been reported so far.
Symptoms
Hantavirus Hemorrhagic Fever: Fever, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure are the three major clinical manifestations. Symptoms usually appear suddenly, including fever lasting 3 to 8 days, conjunctival congestion, weakness, back pain, headache, abdominal pain, anorexia, and vomiting. Hemorrhagic symptoms appear on days 3 to 6 and may progress to acute renal failure, lasting for several weeks.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, and severe muscle pain, accompanied by headache and stomach discomfort. Cough and shortness of breath usually appear 4 to 10 days after onset. Once cardiac and pulmonary discomfort symptoms appear, respiratory failure and shock may quickly follow.
Prevention Methods
Strengthen rodent control. Environmental cleaning should be enhanced in residences and various public places, including restaurants, hotels, snack stalls, markets, and food factories, to eliminate rodents from buildings and implement rodent prevention measures. Once signs of rodents are found, rodent extermination should be initiated immediately.
Source: CDC
Among the 8 confirmed and suspected cases, a 70-year-old Dutch passenger was the first to develop symptoms.
WHO stated that he began to experience symptoms such as fever, headache, and mild diarrhea on April 6, developed respiratory distress on April 11, and died on board that day.
Anais Legand, a WHO expert on viral hemorrhagic fevers, told Agence France-Presse: "The time from infection to symptom onset, i.e., the incubation period, ranges from 1 to 6 weeks, but is usually closer to 2 to 3 weeks."
Therefore, the first case "could not have been infected on board the ship, or on any island where it stopped during the voyage."
She stated that the man "was very clearly exposed to the virus before boarding," and it was "almost certainly related to rodents."
Among the 3 deceased, only the 69-year-old wife of the Dutch man has so far been confirmed positive for Hantavirus.
She developed gastrointestinal symptoms on April 24 when she disembarked with her husband's body on the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, and then flew to Johannesburg on April 25, dying the next day.
The third deceased was a German passenger, suspected to have died from Hantavirus on board on May 2.
Two other patients who were on the ship are currently receiving treatment in hospitals in Johannesburg and Zurich, both testing positive; three other suspected cases have been evacuated from the cruise ship and sent to the Netherlands.
The cruise ship, which had been docked in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, since the 3rd, departed today for the Canary Islands, Spain.
Hantavirus is usually transmitted by infected rodents, mainly through the spread of urine, excrement, and saliva. (Compiled by Hsu Jui-cheng) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.