Spanish health authorities have confirmed a new case of Hantavirus linked to the outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, as international health officials continue monitoring what has become the first known hantavirus outbreak associated with a cruise vessel. The infected passenger, a Spanish national evacuated from the ship, is currently being held in quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid alongside 13 other Spanish evacuees who have so far tested negative for the virus.
The announcement came as World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there are now 11 confirmed cases linked to the cruise ship outbreak, including three fatalities. According to WHO officials, nine of the confirmed infections involve the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare variant that scientists believe may spread between people under limited circumstances. Tedros said the number of confirmed cases has remained relatively stable over the past week due to coordinated international containment efforts, though he warned that additional infections could emerge because the virus has a long incubation period.
The outbreak prompted a large-scale evacuation operation in Tenerife, Spain, where 87 passengers and 35 crew members were escorted off the vessel by personnel wearing full-body protective equipment and respiratory masks. Following the evacuation, the ship began its return journey to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, where it is expected to undergo extensive cleaning and disinfection procedures. Several evacuated passengers and crew members were transported to different countries under strict quarantine measures, including the Netherlands and Australia.
Also Read: MV Hondius Evacuation Reports Hantavirus Case and Symptoms During Return Flights
Health authorities say hantavirus is typically transmitted through exposure to infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, and is generally not considered highly contagious between humans. However, the Andes variant identified in several cases linked to the cruise ship has previously shown limited evidence of human-to-human transmission. Symptoms may appear anywhere between one and eight weeks after exposure and commonly include fever, chills, muscle pain, fatigue, and respiratory complications in severe cases. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or specific cure for hantavirus infections, although early diagnosis and supportive medical treatment can improve survival rates.
Meanwhile, hospitals and health agencies across Europe are taking additional precautions after potential exposure incidents involving medical personnel. In the Netherlands, 12 employees at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen were placed under preventive quarantine after improperly handling bodily fluids from an infected patient. Hospital officials said the risk of transmission remains low but acknowledged that blood and urine samples should have been managed under stricter containment procedures.
French authorities are also continuing emergency monitoring efforts after a French woman evacuated from the cruise ship remained in intensive care at a Paris hospital in stable condition. WHO officials have advised all returning passengers from the MV Hondius to remain in quarantine for up to 42 days due to the virus’s extended incubation period. Although global health officials say there is currently no indication of a wider international outbreak, governments across several countries are maintaining close surveillance as investigations into the origin and spread of the infections continue.
Also Read: WHO Chief To Assist Tenerife Evacuation Following Hantavirus Outbreak On MV Hondius