Cruise Ship Crisis: Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak Reaches Rotterdam

Cruise Ship Crisis: Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak Reaches Rotterdam  

A Dutch-flagged cruise ship, the MV Hondius, has docked in Rotterdam after a deadly hantavirus outbreak that killed three passengers and infected several others, marking the first known cruise ship outbreak of this rare virus. 

Authorities have quarantined the remaining crew and begun disinfection, while the World Health Organization stresses the risk to the public remains low.

The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, with nearly 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries. 

During the voyage, cases of hantavirus,  specifically the Andes strain, known to circulate in Argentina and Chile, began to appear. The outbreak was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 2. Three passengers, including a Dutch couple and a German national, died as a result of the infection.

The ship faced multiple refusals to dock, including at Cape Verde, before Spain allowed an evacuation in Tenerife. Over 120 passengers were flown to their home countries or quarantined in the Netherlands. 

Some passengers became symptomatic during repatriation flights, including a French woman who was hospitalized in Paris.

On May 18, 2026, the MV Hondius arrived in Rotterdam with 25 crew members and two medical staff still on board. Authorities in protective suits boarded the vessel, and quarantine facilities were prepared for non-Dutch crew members. 

The ship will undergo a three-day disinfection process under Dutch public health guidelines before being cleared for future voyages.

Health Impact

- Confirmed cases: At least nine confirmed and two probable infections.

- Deaths: Three passengers.

- Hospitalizations: Several passengers evacuated to Europe required urgent medical care, though most are stable.

- Transmission: Hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents, but rare human-to-human transmission has been documented with prolonged close contact.

The WHO and European health authorities have closely monitored the outbreak. While the incubation period can last up to six weeks, officials emphasize that the risk of widespread contagion is very low. 

Strict quarantine and testing protocols are in place for crew and passengers. The outbreak has prompted comparisons to COVID-19, but experts stress that hantavirus is far less transmissible.

Despite the crisis, Oceanwide Expeditions has stated it does not foresee changes to its operations, with an Arctic cruise scheduled to depart from Iceland later in May. 

The MV Hondius will only resume service once cleared by public health officials.