MV Hondius outbreak coverage

Quarantine over for almost all MV Hondius passengers and crew — all retests negative

RIVM confirmed on 18 June 2026 that almost all MV Hondius passengers and crew have completed their 42-day quarantine. Every person was re-tested before release, and all tests returned negative. One person remains in extended quarantine due to close contact with a hospitalized patient (the Dutch national who tested positive in late May, still isolated in hospital). One other Dutch individual showed a weak positive signal but subsequent tests were negative — not classified as a case. The 42-day monitoring window, designed to cover the maximum known ANDV incubation period, has now closed for virtually all exposed individuals. No new cases have been confirmed since Spain Case 3 (25–26 May 2026).

21 countries launch NAVIS — coordinated Andes virus natural history study following MV Hondius outbreak

WHO announced the launch of NAVIS, a 21-country coordinated natural history study on Andes virus. Participating countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, DRC, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and United States. Coordinated by Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol (Spain), ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases (ANRS-MIE), and the Hantavirus Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC), using the ISARIC framework. The study will follow exposed individuals longitudinally to improve understanding of ANDV transmission dynamics, incubation periods, immune responses, viral kinetics, and determinants of severe disease. Over 1,600 experts from 130+ countries are involved. The initiative is designed to accelerate development of diagnostics, antivirals, and vaccines for Andes hantavirus.

Saint Helena declares hantavirus incident concluded — no active, suspected, or confirmed cases

The Government of Saint Helena officially declared the hantavirus incident concluded on 8 June 2026. The island reports no active, suspected, or confirmed cases. The declaration follows the full recovery and clearance of the suspected Tristan da Cunha case and the completion of all contact monitoring for passengers who disembarked at Saint Helena on 24 April. The South Atlantic component of the MV Hondius outbreak is fully resolved.

WHO DON-604: Hantavirus outbreak linked to cruise ship travel, Multi-locations — Rt=0.7, 600+ contacts, declining spread

WHO's fourth Disease Outbreak News on the MV Hondius Andes virus cluster. 13 cases (11 confirmed + 2 probable), 3 deaths, CFR 23%. Three new confirmed cases since DON-601 (13 May): Canada (16 May), Netherlands crew member (22 May), Spain Case 3 (25–26 May). Over 600 contacts identified across 32 countries, territories and areas; 53% high-risk. Effective reproduction number Rt=0.7 as of 22 May, indicating declining transmission. The DON title shifts from 'Multi-country' to 'Multi-locations' reflecting the broader geographic spread to territories and non-state entities. WHO global public-risk assessment remains low.

WHO: hantavirus outbreak rises to 13 cases — Spain's new case brings total stable

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced: 'Spain reported a new case among the passengers who are in quarantine, which brings the total number of cases to 13. The situation remains stable.' Three deaths have occurred; no new fatalities since 2 May. Fourteen Spanish nationals from the ship remain quarantined at Gómez Ulla in Madrid, treated in a High-Level Isolation Unit. WHO's global public-risk assessment remains low; no new Disease Outbreak News planned.

ECDC 26 May 2026 update: 13 cases (11 confirmed + 2 probable), 3 deaths; case definition revised

ECDC's 26 May 2026 surveillance update reports 13 total cases (11 laboratory-confirmed + 2 probable), 3 deaths, CFR 23% — one new confirmed case since the 24 May update. The new case is Spain's third (second Spanish national). Case definition revised to align with WHO: a confirmed case now requires laboratory confirmation of ANDV by PCR and/or serology (serology previously not sufficient for confirmed classification in some national counts). Risk to the EU/EEA general population remains very low. WHO DG Tedros confirmed the 13th case; outbreak described as 'stable.' No new WHO DON issued since DON-601 (13 May).

Spain confirms third hantavirus case — second Spanish national in Madrid quarantine PCR-positive

Spain's Ministry of Health confirmed a new hantavirus case on 25–26 May 2026: a second Spanish national among the 14 MV Hondius passengers quarantined at Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital in Madrid tested PCR-positive during routine periodic diagnostic screening. The patient — a close contact of an existing case — was already in isolation and was transferred to the High-Level Isolation Unit on confirmation. Ministry statement: 'The positive case has been detected during the periodic diagnostic checks carried out on the contacts under follow-up.' Health authorities emphasised the detection occurred within the activated control system and does not change the public-risk assessment. Spain's total rises to 3 cases (Alicante + 2 Madrid). WHO DG Tedros designated this as the 13th official WHO case.

Tristan da Cunha hantavirus suspected case now recuperating at home

Tristan da Cunha government update (23 May 2026): the one suspected hantavirus case on the island is now well enough to recuperate at home. Patient remains classified as probable pending final laboratory confirmation. Community-wide GeneXpert PCR screening has not identified additional cases. This marks a significant clinical improvement for the resident who disembarked at Saint Helena on 14 April and had symptom onset 28 April.