According to the World Health Organization (WHO), three passengers aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean have died following a suspected hantavirus outbreak. The incident occurred on the polar cruise vessel MV Hondius, which was sailing between Argentina and Cape Verde. The WHO reported that at least one hantavirus infection has been confirmed, and one individual is currently in intensive care at a hospital in South Africa. Two of the deceased were a Dutch couple.
A British man, a Dutch crew member, and a German national are among the suspected hantavirus cases connected to the MV Hondius cruise ship. Some passengers are currently being treated or monitored in Europe and the United States, while 146 individuals from 23 different countries remain on board as the vessel travels to the Canary Islands for medical evaluation.
Hantaviruses are a family of more than 20 viruses named after a river in South Korea, with most strains spread to humans through contact with infected rodents such as rats and mice. Infection typically occurs when people inhale particles from dried urine, droppings, or saliva, according to the WHO.
However, one rare strain known as the Andes virus, found mainly in Argentina and Chile, is unusual because it can spread from person to person, though this is extremely uncommon and usually requires close, prolonged contact. Health authorities have confirmed this strain in two MV Hondius passengers linked to the outbreak.
A notable example of its transmission occurred during an outbreak in Argentina in 2018, where a single infected individual is believed to have passed the virus to 34 people at a gathering, resulting in 11 deaths.
Hantavirus can cause two serious illnesses: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS)
HPS symptoms usually begin with fatigue, fever, and muscle pain, followed by headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal problems
In severe cases, it progresses to serious breathing difficulties, requiring urgent medical care
HPS is a major illness linked to the Andes strain, which has a mortality rate of 20–40%
Symptoms may take 1 to 8 weeks to appear, making early detection difficult
HFRS initially resembles flu but can worsen, affecting the kidneys and causing low blood pressure, internal bleeding, and acute kidney failure
Hantavirus is usually spread when people come into contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings, or saliva. Infection most often occurs when contaminated particles are stirred into the air and inhaled, but it can also happen through rodent bites such as from rats or mice.
Most hantavirus strains do not spread between people. However, the rare Andes strain is an exception and can transmit from person to person, though only in cases of close, prolonged contact with someone who is symptomatic. Health experts emphasize that it does not spread through casual interaction or airborne droplets like flu.
There is no targeted cure for hantavirus infections, but prompt medical care can increase the chances of survival. Recommended management may involve oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and, in some cases, dialysis. Patients with severe illness and pronounced symptoms often require hospital admission and treatment in intensive care units. New therapeutic approaches are currently under investigation. At present, there are no widely accessible vaccines for this virus, although certain vaccines are in use in China and South Korea for strains that are prevalent in those regions.
According to a report from the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 150,000 cases of HFRS occur worldwide each year, with most of them reported in Europe and Asia. China typically accounts for more than half of these cases. Recent US data indicate that between 1993 and 2023, there were 890 recorded cases of hantavirus in the country.
In February 2025, Betsy Arakawa, the wife of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, died from a respiratory illness associated with hantavirus. Medical investigators believe she developed HPS, the most prevalent hantavirus strain in the United States, which ultimately caused her death. Nests and several dead rodents were discovered in outbuildings on her property, where she was found.