May 9, 2026 | International News
Fresh concerns have emerged over the spread of hantavirus after new suspected infections linked to the outbreak-stricken cruise ship, MV Hondius, were reported in Spain and on the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha.
The latest developments have raised fears that the virus may have spread far beyond the luxury expedition vessel where three people have already died.
According to Reuters, health officials disclosed on Friday that the new suspected cases involve a man who became ill after leaving the ship and a woman who reportedly fell sick after sitting close to an infected passenger during a flight.
The outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise liner has drawn global attention, although the World Health Organisation (WHO) insists that the overall risk to the general public remains low.
WHO officials said eight people aboard the MV Hondius were initially identified as suspected hantavirus cases, while six infections have already been confirmed through laboratory testing. Three of the infected persons have died.
Health authorities confirmed that the outbreak involves the Andes virus strain, which is considered the only known hantavirus capable of limited human-to-human transmission through prolonged close contact.
The cruise ship, carrying 147 passengers and crew members, departed from Argentina in March and travelled through parts of Antarctica before moving north toward waters near Cape Verde in West Africa.
The vessel was briefly held near Cape Verde earlier this week after reports of the outbreak surfaced.
Despite concerns over the emergence of suspected cases in different countries, WHO officials maintained that there is currently no evidence of widespread community transmission.
“Based on the dynamics of this outbreak, based on how it is spreading and not spreading amongst the people on the ship, the people who have disembarked as well, we continue to consider the risk as low for the general population,” WHO technical officer for viral threats, Anais Legand, said during an online briefing.
Health experts explained that hantavirus is commonly carried and spread by rodents, although the Andes strain has shown a limited ability to spread between humans.
The United Nations health agency also warned that fatality rates linked to hantavirus infections in the United States can reach as high as 50 percent.
The appearance of suspected cases in Spain and Tristan da Cunha — locations thousands of miles apart — has intensified global monitoring efforts as investigators work to determine whether more passengers or contacts may have been exposed after leaving the ship.
