The World Health Organization has warned that more hantavirus cases are expected to emerge following the deadly outbreak aboard the Antarctic cruise ship MV Hondius, as health officials continue monitoring passengers exposed during the vessel’s voyage.
Speaking during a news conference, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the extended period between the first infection onboard and the identification of the virus likely allowed further transmission among passengers.
According to Tedros, the first known case was recorded on 6 April, but the illness was not confirmed as hantavirus until around 24 or 25 April. During that time, passengers continued interacting aboard the ship despite limited preventative measures being introduced.
“We would expect more cases,” Tedros said, explaining that the virus’s incubation period can range from six to eight weeks. He noted that the close-contact environment onboard the MV Hondius increased the likelihood of additional infections before containment efforts began.
The WHO currently counts 11 confirmed and suspected hantavirus cases linked to the cruise ship outbreak. Three people have died so far, including a Dutch couple aged 69 and a German passenger. Health officials also confirmed that three British passengers have fallen ill.
Despite concerns over the rising number of infections, the WHO stressed there is no evidence that the situation is developing into a larger global outbreak. Tedros said current data does not suggest widespread community transmission, adding that health authorities remain focused on tracing contacts and monitoring passengers who disembarked from the vessel.
The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has drawn international attention because the Andes strain of hantavirus involved in the incident is one of the few known variants capable of limited human-to-human transmission. Most hantavirus infections are typically linked to contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva.
Passengers evacuated from the ship in Tenerife, Spain, are now undergoing quarantine and medical observation across several countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, France, and Switzerland. Health officials fear more cases may emerge in the coming weeks due to the virus’s long incubation period.
The incident has triggered comparisons to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, with quarantine operations and cruise ship evacuations once again dominating headlines. However, experts continue to stress that hantavirus spreads far less easily than coronavirus and generally requires prolonged close contact for transmission.
Investigations into the source of the outbreak remain ongoing as authorities attempt to determine how the virus first spread aboard the expedition vessel.
play_arrow 
play_arrow 
play_arrow 
