Andes Virus Outbreak Linked to Cruise Ship Cluster; Health Officials Monitor U.S. Passengers
Health authorities are closely tracking an outbreak of the Andes virus, a rare strain of hantavirus, following a cluster of severe illnesses reported on a cruise ship in the South Atlantic. The incident has prompted international health monitoring and the quarantine of several passengers arriving in the United States.
According to a preliminary assessment released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on May 6, 2026, seven cases of illness have been identified among passengers on a Dutch-flagged cruise ship. The outbreak, which was first reported to the ECDC on May 2, 2026, has resulted in three deaths. One passenger was medically evacuated to South Africa and remains in an intensive care unit (ICU), while another individual was diagnosed after disembarking the vessel in Switzerland.
The ECDC reported that the ship carried 149 people representing 23 different nationalities. Among those affected, at least four individuals experienced rapidly progressing symptoms, including pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, and shock. Laboratory investigations are ongoing, with PCR testing confirming hantavirus in two patients and the Andes virus (ANDV) in one additional patient.
The Andes virus is a specific strain of hantavirus primarily found in rodents in South America. While most hantaviruses are transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, the Andes strain is unique. It is the only type of hantavirus known to spread through person-to-person contact, although such transmission is considered rare and generally requires prolonged, close contact with an infected person.
The outbreak has a direct connection to the United States. NYC Health reported that three residents of New York state, including one individual from New York City, were passengers on the MV Hondius. On May 11, 2026, these three passengers arrived at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, where they are expected to undergo a 42-day monitoring period.
Despite the international nature of the cluster, health officials emphasize that the immediate danger to the public remains minimal. “Currently, the risk to New Yorkers is extremely low,” NYC Health stated, noting that the agency has not reported any hantavirus cases in New York City since at least 1995. Nationally, hantavirus infections are rare, with fewer than 30 reported cases in the United States each year, most of which are concentrated in the western U.S.
The ongoing monitoring of the MV Hondius passengers underscores the complexities of managing rare viral pathogens that can transit through international travel hubs. Public health agencies continue to coordinate with the World Health Organization and other partners to manage the evolving situation.
