Doctor discusses deadly hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship
Dr. Zaid Fadul, a doctor, discusses the deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship and confirms that the Andean strain has a mortality rate of about 40%. He explains that human-to-human transmission is different from other hantaviruses, and emphasizes the need for a possible eight-week quarantine due to the long latency period.
A Swiss man who returned from a cruise linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak has tested positive and is isolated, as health officials say the strain involved can spread between people in rare cases – although the overall risk remains low.
Health authorities in Switzerland confirmed that the man recently traveled aboard the MV Hondius, the cruise ship at the center of an outbreak that has already killed three passengers and sickened several others.
Swiss health officials said the man sought medical attention after developing symptoms and was immediately placed in isolation. His wife, who traveled with him, is self-isolating but shows no symptoms.
Officials confirmed his case involves the Andean strain of hantavirus.
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The Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius is anchored in the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Verde on May 5, 2026. (Arilson Almeida/AP)
The World Health Organization said the Andean strain is a rare form of hantavirus that can spread through close contact between people — unlike most hantavirus infections, which are typically linked to exposure to rodent feces.
South African health authorities said they had also identified the Andean strain in two other passengers who were on the ship.
Health workers disembark the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius off the coast of Cape Verde on May 4, 2026, after three passengers died and several others became seriously ill in a suspected hantavirus outbreak. (Qasem Elhato/AP)
The outbreak left the Dutch-flagged cruise ship stranded off the coast of Cape Verde, with nearly 150 passengers and crew on board, as authorities scramble to get the situation under control.
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WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that three suspected cases had been evacuated from the ship and were being transported to the Netherlands for treatment.
“At this stage, the overall public health risk remains low,” Tedros said.
Authorities emphasize that while the Andean strain can spread from person to person, transmission remains uncommon and typically requires close and prolonged contact.
Health officials have launched monitoring efforts for passengers on board and those who have already disembarked, coordinating across multiple countries as investigations continue.
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The ship departed Argentina on April 1 and was due to travel through the South Atlantic, including stops in Antarctica, before the outbreak disrupted its itinerary.
Spain has agreed to receive the ship in the Canary Islands, although local officials have expressed concerns about possible risks to residents.
The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius cruise ship remains off the coast of Cape Verde on May 4, 2026, after three passengers died and several others became seriously ill in a suspected hantavirus outbreak. (Qasem Elhato/AP)
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Hantavirus infections are rare but can be serious, with symptoms ranging from fever and fatigue to severe respiratory illness.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
