Health authorities across multiple countries are closely monitoring passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius after several hantavirus infections and deaths were reported onboard.
The ship, carrying passengers and crew from countries including the United States, France, India, Argentina, the Netherlands and Spain, recently reached Spain’s Canary Islands following the outbreak. According to officials, at least three passengers died during the voyage, while confirmed hantavirus infections were detected among evacuated passengers.
Medical experts said some infected passengers tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare form of the virus known for limited human-to-human transmission. The strain is mainly found in parts of South America and can cause severe respiratory illness in serious cases.
The World Health Organization and Spanish health authorities are now tracking passengers and crew members who travelled on the vessel. Evacuated passengers have been placed under medical observation and quarantine as a precautionary step.
Officials confirmed that two Indian crew members onboard the ship are safe and asymptomatic. They are currently under monitoring after evacuation.
Hantavirus is generally spread through exposure to infected rodents, their urine or droppings. Early symptoms often include fever, fatigue, headaches and muscle pain, but severe infections can lead to breathing difficulties and lung complications.
Health experts stressed that person-to-person transmission of hantavirus is extremely rare and has mainly been linked to the Andes virus strain found in South America. Authorities said the overall public health risk remains low, though close monitoring is continuing.
The outbreak has renewed global attention on infectious disease management aboard cruise ships, with health agencies focusing on early detection, isolation and passenger screening procedures.
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