Hantavirus cases in Spain
Spain is one of 14 countries with confirmed cases linked to the 2026 MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak. This page tracks the local count, lists the attributable events, and updates every time the underlying dataset is revised.
Country note
Case 1 (8 May): South African woman in Alicante PCR-positive after exposure to a deceased Dutch passenger; self-isolating with mild symptoms. Case 2 (12 May): Spanish male passenger in isolation at a Madrid hospital, asymptomatic; PCR-positive on arrival screening — confirmed 12 May.
Context
The 2026 outbreak is caused by Andes virus (ANDV), the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission. The index event is a cluster aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius. Spain cases are either:
- Returning passengers or crew of the MV Hondius
- Household or close-contact cases of returning travellers
- Suspected pre-cruise exposures (rare, currently under investigation)
The country's national focal point reports cases up to WHO and ECDC; we update from those publications.
What to watch for if you were on the Hondius or in close contact with a returning traveller.
The 42-day window, ring tiers, and what investigators actually do.
If you're in Spain — official guidance
- Public health authority
- Ministerio de Sanidad — Centro de Coordinación de Alertas y Emergencias Sanitarias
- Current MV Hondius protocol
- Hospitalisation at Madrid Gomez-Ulla military hospital for repatriated nationals.
- Note
- Spain coordinates the multi-country disembarkation operation at Tenerife.
Spain — read in another language
Other affected countries
Source & method
Counts on this page come from the same dataset that powers the homepage. Every figure links back to a primary source — WHO Disease Outbreak News, ECDC threat assessments, or a national ministry of health communiqué. Open dataset: /data.
Understand the outbreak
- Explainer8 min read
Hantavirus Symptoms: Early Signs, Timeline, and When to Seek Care
Hantavirus symptoms appear 1 to 8 weeks after exposure and progress in two phases. Learn the early warning signs, the…
Read - Explainer13 min read
Andes Virus Person-to-Person Transmission: How It Spreads & 2026 Cruise Ship Risk
Andes virus is the only hantavirus known to spread between people. Understand what close contact means, how the 2026 MV…
Read - Explainer11 min read
Andes Virus: Why This Hantavirus Strain Is Different
The Andes virus (ANDV) is the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission. A deep look at its…
Read - Explainer12 min read
Hantavirus Contact Tracing on the MV Hondius: How a 1,500-Passenger Ship Becomes a Manageable Cohort
Inside the contact-tracing playbook ECDC and partners are running for the 2026 Andes virus cluster: case definitions,…
Read