As of May 8, 2026, the World Health Organization reported eight cases linked to the outbreak, including six confirmed hantavirus infections and two suspected, with three deaths recorded. The fatalities included a Dutch couple and a German woman, according to WHO updates from May 7 and 8. The initial fatality was a probable case who developed symptoms on April 6 and died onboard the MV Hondius on April 11, the agency said. The German woman died on May 2 and was later confirmed as infected. WHO described one passenger as critically ill early in the investigation.

The MV Hondius traveled through the South Atlantic with stops including Antarctica, South Georgia Island, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and Cabo Verde.

The outbreak was first identified when WHO was notified on May 2 of a cluster of severe acute respiratory illness aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, which had departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1. Laboratory testing in South Africa confirmed hantavirus infection in the critically ill patient, prompting WHO to classify the event as a multi-country public health emergency requiring international coordination.

WHO reported the ship was anchored off Cabo Verde by May 4 and later moved toward the Canary Islands. The vessel carried 147 people—86 passengers and 61 crew members—from 23 different nationalities, according to CDC records. WHO noted that the extent of passenger contact with wildlife before or during the expedition remained unknown.

In response, WHO engaged with National International Health Regulations (IHR) Focal Points in Argentina, Cabo Verde, Chile, Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom to coordinate contact tracing and public health measures. Passengers were advised to remain in their cabins where possible and practice physical distancing. WHO also initiated discussions to deploy an Emergency Medical Team to support management and medical evacuation of symptomatic passengers.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on May 8 that the virus involved was Andes virus, a species of hantavirus. CDC officials said they were coordinating with federal, state, local, and international partners to repatriate American passengers. A CDC team met the ship in the Canary Islands on May 7 to assess exposure risks. Exposed Americans were to be monitored and, in some cases, transferred to a specialized medical facility in Nebraska.

European health authorities also responded to the outbreak. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control issued a preliminary assessment on May 6, describing the situation as rapidly evolving. ECDC had been notified via the Early Warning and Response System on May 2 about the cluster of severe respiratory symptoms aboard the ship. According to BBC reports, the last six passengers disembarked in Tenerife, marking the end of the ship’s voyage. The New York Times reported that two infected passengers had arrived in the Netherlands for treatment. European public health agencies were preparing epidemiologic investigations, passenger monitoring, and ship disinfection procedures.

The outbreak remains under active investigation as health officials continue to classify cases and monitor contacts. WHO briefed media on May 7 as the situation evolved, emphasizing ongoing international collaboration. The public health response includes continued contact tracing, medical support for affected passengers, and efforts to prevent further transmission.

Of the 18 Americans quarantined, 16 were transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where they are under observation in the National Quarantine Unit at the Davis Global Center and the hospital’s biocontainment unit, officials said. Two others, including one patient exhibiting mild symptoms and their partner, were sent to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta for monitoring, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and multiple news outlets. The evacuation took place early Monday morning following the outbreak aboard the Dutch-registered cruise ship MV Hondius.

The outbreak on the MV Hondius has resulted in three passenger deaths and at least nine confirmed cases, with two additional suspected infections, according to Nebraska Public Media and NBC News.

Among those quarantined, one American tested mildly positive for the Andes hantavirus strain but remained asymptomatic while isolated in the biocontainment unit in Omaha, sources confirmed. Another individual at the Atlanta facility showed mild symptoms consistent with hantavirus infection. The remaining 15 Americans in Nebraska were asymptomatic after initial medical evaluations, officials said. In total, 17 U.S. citizens and one dual U.S.-British national are under institutional observation, according to federal health authorities.

The 42-day quarantine period corresponds to the maximum incubation time for hantavirus, calculated from the last potential exposure on the cruise ship, health officials explained. Patients will undergo several days of initial assessment at the facilities before individualized plans for home monitoring are made, according to CDC guidelines. The quarantine environment in Omaha includes separate rooms with no contact allowed between individuals or visitors, resembling hotel accommodations, sources reported.

The cruise ship departed Argentina on April 1 with approximately 150 passengers and was en route to the Canary Islands when the outbreak occurred. The hantavirus strain involved is rodent-borne and known as Andes virus, which is unusual in that it can transmit between humans but only after prolonged close contact with symptomatic individuals, officials said.

Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Admiral Brian Christine stated at a Monday press conference that the risk of hantavirus transmission to the general public remains “very, very low.” Both the CDC and the World Health Organization have emphasized that the virus does not spread easily outside of close contact scenarios, and no mandatory quarantine is required for asymptomatic individuals not on the ship. Instead, home monitoring on a case-by-case basis is permitted, officials said.

In addition to those quarantined, nine other individuals across six U.S. states are being monitored after possible exposure, according to CNN. The patients’ ages range from their late 20s to their 80s, with older people and those with pre-existing health conditions considered at higher risk for severe illness, health sources noted.

There are currently no specific treatments or widely available vaccines for Andes hantavirus infection, according to the New York Times and CDC information. Medical teams at the quarantine facilities are conducting ongoing evaluations and symptom monitoring to manage the patients’ conditions.

Following the evacuation request made by the federal government on Friday, the passengers were flown from the MV Hondius to the United States for specialized care. Meanwhile, approximately 24 passengers remain on board the ship as it continues to Spanish ports for further evacuation and containment measures, Nebraska Public Media reported. Health officials continue to monitor the situation closely as investigations into the outbreak proceed.