**WHO Declares Cruise-Linked Hantavirus Outbreak Officially Over**
*July 2, 2026*
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius to be over, following the completion of quarantine for the last identified contact of an exposed individual. This announcement was made by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday.
The outbreak, which began in April 2026, resulted in 13 confirmed infections and three fatalities. The strain of hantavirus involved is the Andes virus, which is typically found in Argentina and Chile. The cruise ship set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, and traveled through remote islands in the South Atlantic, including Tristan da Cunha, before heading to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. Passengers were eventually flown back home after the ship docked in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on May 18.
In his statement, Tedros confirmed that the last contact of an exposed person had completed their quarantine and tested negative for the virus. He noted that no new cases had been reported since May 25, leading to the conclusion that the outbreak had been successfully contained. “Today, the final contact of a person exposed to hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius completed their quarantine period, tested negative and returned home,” he said.
Health authorities identified and monitored over 650 contacts across 33 countries and territories during the outbreak. Tedros emphasized the importance of ongoing research to better understand hantavirus and its transmission. The WHO is coordinating a study involving 21 countries aimed at exploring the disease's development, which could inform future diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccine development.
Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through rodents, with humans becoming infected through contact with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected animals. The virus can also become airborne during the cleaning of contaminated areas. The Andes virus is unique among hantaviruses as it is known to spread through close, prolonged human-to-human contact.
Symptoms of hantavirus infection typically manifest between one and eight weeks after exposure, starting with fever, headache, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and abdominal pain. In severe cases, the illness can escalate rapidly, leading to respiratory distress and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for hantavirus, and care remains largely supportive.
The conclusion of this outbreak marks a significant milestone in public health efforts to manage and contain infectious diseases, particularly those linked to travel and tourism. The WHO's proactive response and coordination with international health authorities played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of this outbreak. As the organization continues to monitor and study hantavirus, it aims to enhance global preparedness for future outbreaks.