Live tracker
MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak
Multi-country cluster of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome originating aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. Andes strain — the only hantavirus widely accepted to spread person-to-person. WHO designated a multi-country event on 2 May 2026. CDC raised its response to Level 3 on 9 May 2026.
Tracked pockets
sorted by latest updateMV Hondius shipboard cluster
6 confirmed, 2 deceased on board, ~140 remaining
American passengers in Nebraska quarantine
17 in monitoring, 0 confirmed cases
Tenerife controlled evacuation
~140 awaiting disembarkation
Singapore passenger screening
2 screened, both negative
Netherlands: KLM flight attendant + 4 contacts (all negative)
0 confirmed (5 close contacts tested, all negative)
US contact tracing across five states
7 returning passengers under monitoring
Johannesburg: first off-ship death (Dutch passenger)
1 confirmed, 1 deceased · NICD verified Andes strain · 4 Western Cape contacts monitored
First hantavirus case in Israel (unrelated to MV Hondius)
1 confirmed · European strain (not Andes) · stable, under observation
Timeline
12 entriesCDC raises response to Level 3
CDC elevates its emergency response level to 3 (highest tier) for the MV Hondius outbreak.
CDC ↗Confirmed cases rise to 6
WHO and partners confirm a sixth case aboard MV Hondius.
KLM crew + contacts test negative
WHO confirms KLM stewardess and 4 close contacts test negative for hantavirus.
WHO ↗CDC HAN #00528 issued
U.S. CDC publishes Health Alert Network advisory for clinicians and state health departments.
CDC HAN #00528 ↗US announces Nebraska repatriation
17 American citizens to be repatriated and quarantined at Camp Ashland, Nebraska.
NBC News ↗Unrelated Israel case (European strain)
Israel reports its first-ever hantavirus case. Patient infected with a European strain during Eastern Europe travel. Not connected to MV Hondius.
Jerusalem Post ↗WHO confirms 5 cases
WHO confirms five cases of hantavirus linked to MV Hondius. Three deaths reported on board.
Reuters ↗WHO multi-country statement
WHO publishes multi-country statement; passenger contact tracing extends to 17 countries.
WHO ↗Andes virus confirmed
Laboratory confirmation that the outbreak strain is Andes hantavirus, the only hantavirus widely accepted to spread person-to-person.
WHO DON 2026-DON599 ↗NICD confirms Andes strain
South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases publishes PCR confirmation of Andes hantavirus.
NICD ↗WHO notified of cluster
World Health Organization notified by Argentina of severe respiratory illnesses aboard the MV Hondius.
WHO DON 2026-DON599 ↗First off-ship death — Johannesburg
Dutch passenger dies at OR Tambo airport after KLM flight from Saint Helena. Case later PCR-confirmed Andes hantavirus by South Africa NICD on 4 May.
Moneyweb ↗Live feed
30 items · refreshes every 20mWHO chief seeks to reassure Tenerife residents over hantavirus cruise ship arrival - United News of Bangladesh
United News of Bangladesh· WHO, Tenerife
Hantavirus outbreak: Ireland among states sending planes to evacuate citizens, says Spain - The Irish Times
The Irish Times
CDC Issues New Advisory On Potential Hantavirus Infections In US: What To Know - AOL.com
AOL.com· CDC
WHO chief arrives in Spain as passengers prepare to disembark hantavirus ship - The Washington Post
The Washington Post· WHO, passenger
Video Tenerife port prepares for MV Hondius cruise passengers - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos· passenger, Tenerife
Inside the military-style Tenerife operation to evacuate the Hantavirus cruise ship - The Independent
The Independent· Tenerife
WHO Director-General’s Urgent Message to Tenerife: What You Need to Know About the Hantavirus Response and Travel Safety in 2026 - Travel And Tour World
Travel And Tour World· WHO, Tenerife
Trump speaks out on Hantavirus outbreak as cruise ship heads for Canary Islands - The Independent
The Independent
WHO says hantavirus-hit ship poses low risk to Tenerife - The Sun Malaysia
The Sun Malaysia· WHO, Tenerife
Canary Islands brace for cruise ship hit by hantavirus outbreak - The Sun Malaysia
The Sun Malaysia
6 hantavirus cases confirmed as cruise passengers await disembarking - MSN
MSN· case, passenger, confirmed
Experts wonder 'Where is the CDC?' as a hantavirus outbreak unfolds on a cruise ship - Audacy
Audacy· CDC
Hantavirus outbreak latest: Cruise ship on way to Canary Islands after three evacuated - WFAA
WFAA
WHO Chief Seeks To Calm Fears as Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship Nears Tenerife - The European Conservative
The European Conservative· WHO, Tenerife
Head of WHO arrives in Spain, as CDC prepares to evacuate 17 Americans from hantavirus cruise to quarantine in Nebraska - New York Post
New York Post· CDC, WHO, quarantine, Nebraska
Experts wonder ‘Where is the CDC?’ as a hantavirus outbreak unfolds on a cruise ship - The Spec
The Spec· CDC
Experts wonder ‘Where is the CDC?’ as a hantavirus outbreak unfolds on a cruise ship - Toronto Star
Toronto Star· CDC
Experts wonder 'Where is the CDC?' as a hantavirus outbreak unfolds on a cruise ship - Goshen News
Goshen News· CDC
Experts wonder 'Where is the CDC?' as a hantavirus outbreak unfolds on a cruise ship - Union-Bulletin
Union-Bulletin· CDC
Experts wonder 'Where is the CDC?' as a hantavirus outbreak unfolds on a cruise ship - bastillepost.com
bastillepost.com· CDC