health
May 5, 2026
Origin of Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship: Prior Infection and Food Among Hypotheses
The MV Hondius, which was traveling between Ushuaia, Argentina, and Cape Verde with 88 passengers and 59 crew members from 23 nationalities, has been under health alert since hantavirus, a disease transmitted by rodents, was suspected to be behind the deaths of three people on board.
TL;DR
- Tierra del Fuego authorities state the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius did not originate in Ushuaia, citing no local cases and adherence to sanitary protocols.
- The WHO's primary hypothesis points to infections occurring off the ship, due to the virus's incubation period of one to six weeks.
- Human-to-human transmission is not ruled out, especially in contexts of very close contact.
- Three individuals, two symptomatic and one close contact, are being evacuated from Cape Verde to the Netherlands for specialized care.
- The MV Hondius is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, with passengers confined to their cabins as a precautionary measure.