Hantavirus cases in Spanje

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 Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital (Madrid); PCR-positive on arrival screening — confirmed 12 May. Low-grade fever and mild respiratory symptoms developed 14 May. As of 19–21 May patient is 'progressing well'; the 13 high-risk contacts on the same ward were allowed to move around the ward and receive visitors (with PPE) after all testing negative — no cross-contamination confirmed. Case 3 (25–26 May): A second Spanish national among the 14 MV Hondius passengers quarantined at Gómez Ulla Hospital tested PCR-positive during routine diagnostic screening. Patient transferred to High-Level Isolation Unit. Spain's Health Ministry: 'The positive case has been detected during the periodic diagnostic checks carried out on the contacts under follow-up.' WHO DG Tedros announced this as the 13th official WHO case.

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. Spanje 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.

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Other affected countries