MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak — May 2026

Spain's health minister Mónica García overrules Canary Islands president — ship confirmed to dock in Tenerife. 14 Spanish passengers will go to a military hospital; all others repatriated. New suspected case identified on Tristan da Cunha — a third British national. Singapore isolates two residents who shared a flight with a confirmed case. US states Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas and Virginia begin monitoring returning passengers. 29 passengers who disembarked at St Helena — including 6 Americans — have unknown whereabouts.

8th case confirmed in Zurich. Two Dutch nationals — husband and wife — confirmed among three deaths. KLM notifies passengers on Johannesburg-bound flight (April 25) of potential exposure. ~40 passengers confirmed to have disembarked at St Helena before outbreak detected. WHO Director-General Tedros briefs media: "This is not COVID, this is not influenza; it spreads very, very differently."

Andes strain confirmed. 3 patients air-evacuated to Netherlands and Germany. WHO deploys expert on board ship. 2,500 diagnostic kits shipped to labs in 5 countries. Ship departs Cape Verde at 7:15pm heading north. Canary Islands president initially refuses entry.

WHO reports 7 cases, 3 deaths. Ship anchored off Cape Verde. Human-to-human transmission flagged. Singapore notified of two residents aboard.

UK IHR focal point formally notifies WHO of severe respiratory illness cluster aboard MV Hondius.

Ship departs Ascension Island. An ill British passenger was removed here and flown to South Africa for treatment.

Body of deceased passenger removed at Saint Helena. His wife disembarks — she later dies in Johannesburg. 29 passengers total disembark at St Helena. 82-passenger Airlink flight from St Helena to Johannesburg being contact traced. Dutch woman boards KLM flight in Johannesburg but is too sick to fly and is removed.

First passenger — a 70-year-old Dutch man — dies aboard with fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. First confirmed hantavirus death.

MV Hondius departs Ushuaia, Argentina with 147 passengers and crew of 23 nationalities. Index cases — a Dutch couple — had spent 4 months birdwatching across Argentina, Chile and Uruguay prior to boarding.