Regarding the outbreak of the deadly Hantavirus on the luxury cruise ship “MV Hondius”, Spanish health authorities announced on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) that a Spanish passenger evacuated from the ship has tested positive.
At the same time, the World Health Organization confirmed that there have been a total of 11 related cases globally, including 3 unfortunate deaths among the cruise ship passengers.
The newly diagnosed Spanish passenger is currently in isolation at a military hospital in Madrid. Thirteen other Spanish citizens who were evacuated with them on Sunday are also under observation at the same hospital, fortunately testing negative. The patient exhibited symptoms of fever and difficulty breathing, but their condition is currently stable.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid, stated that all 11 confirmed cases are passengers or crew members of the “MV Hondius”, with 9 cases confirmed to be of the rare human-to-human transmissible “Andes strain”.
Apart from Spain, U.S. officials also confirmed that one passenger from the ship returning to the U.S. tested positive among the 18 passengers. Additionally, a female evacuee from France is currently in stable condition in intensive care at a hospital in Paris.
With the final group of remaining passengers disembarking on Monday at Tenerife in the Canary Islands, the evacuation operation of the “MV Hondius” has been officially completed. Eyewitnesses described that under the careful guidance of medical staff wearing protective gear and respirator masks, 87 passengers and 35 crew members were safely escorted ashore.
The cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions stated that “MV Hondius” is currently sailing back to the port city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands with 25 crew members and two medical staff on board, expected to arrive on May 17 for thorough cleaning and deep disinfection.
Meanwhile, a medical center at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands, reported a containment breach. The hospital admitted that due to non-compliance with strict infection control measures while handling blood and urine samples of a confirmed Hantavirus patient on Monday, 12 staff members are now undergoing a six-week preventive quarantine for mishandling bodily fluids.
Chairperson of the hospital’s executive committee Bertine Lahuis emphasized that although the infection risk is minimal and patient care was not compromised, the hospital will investigate the incident thoroughly to prevent similar mistakes from reoccurring.
Health authorities noted that this is the first global instance of a Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. The virus is usually transmitted through the feces of rodents, but in special cases like the Andes strain, it could potentially spread through close human contact. The incubation period ranges from one to eight weeks, with initial symptoms including fever, chills, and muscle aches.
Despite the lack of specific treatment or vaccine currently available, the WHO stresses that early detection and treatment can significantly improve survival rates. Tedros urged all returning passengers to voluntarily undergo a 42-day quarantine period for observation.
【This article references reports from the Associated Press and others】