Critical Hantavirus Emergency

What Is Happening

In April 2026, a cluster of severe respiratory illness began appearing among passengers aboard the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions. The ship had departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1 on an Atlantic crossing. By the time the World Health Organization was notified on May 2, three passengers had already died.

The virus has been confirmed as the Andes strain of hantavirus — the only known hantavirus that spreads between humans. As of May 13, there are 11 total cases (9 confirmed, 2 probable) across passengers from at least six countries. All passengers have now disembarked following a carefully managed evacuation at Tenerife, Canary Islands on May 10–11.

Outbreak Timeline

• Apr 1
  MV Hondius departs Ushuaia, Argentina with passengers from 23 nationalities.
• Apr 6
  First symptoms appear. A Dutch male passenger develops fever and respiratory symptoms — later identified as the index case.
• Apr 24
  His 69-year-old wife goes ashore at Saint Helena with gastrointestinal symptoms. Over 30 other passengers disembark here. She flies to Johannesburg, deteriorates, and dies April 26. Her hantavirus diagnosis is confirmed May 4.
• Apr 28
  A German woman develops fever and malaise. She deteriorates rapidly and dies May 2 on board. Postmortem testing confirms Andes hantavirus.
• May 2
  WHO first notified of the outbreak. A third death occurs aboard the ship.
• May 3
  Ship docks at Praia, Cape Verde. No passengers disembark — local facilities unable to handle a safe evacuation.
• May 4
  WHO publishes its first formal Disease Outbreak Notice — three weeks after the first patient died. CDC activates a Level 3 emergency response, deploying 100+ staff.
• May 6
  Andes virus confirmed as the causative agent. A Swiss patient in Zurich confirmed infected, bringing cases to 8. Ship departs for the Canary Islands.
• May 10
  MV Hondius docks at Tenerife. Carefully managed evacuation begins: passengers in protective clothing and masks transported by boat to shore, then via charter flights to home countries.
• May 11
  All passengers disembarked. 16 Americans arrive at University of Nebraska Medical Center. 15 enter quarantine unit; 1 — Dr. Steve Kornfeld, a physician who treated patients aboard — is in the biocontainment unit after testing positive. 2 other Americans flown to Atlanta.
• May 13
  Total cases rise to 11. Kansas monitoring 3 people with high-risk exposure to a confirmed case. Minnesota monitoring 1 additional person. 42-day monitoring period for disembarked passengers runs until June 21.

The Passenger Who Stepped In

Dr. Steve Kornfeld, an oncologist who was taking a once-in-a-lifetime voyage, became the de facto ship's physician after the vessel's doctor contracted the virus. He is currently the only MV Hondius passenger in a biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, after testing positive for Andes hantavirus.

"At the time, it was felt like this is just some virus," Kornfeld told CNN. "And now, in retrospect, there is a question — could it have been hantavirus?" He described experiencing night sweats, chills, mild respiratory symptoms, and severe fatigue over more than two weeks. As of May 13, he is reporting no symptoms and says he is in good spirits, spending much of his time on WhatsApp.

What the NYT Got Right

David Wallace-Wells's analysis in the New York Times identified five critical points about this outbreak that public health officials were slow to communicate clearly. They remain worth understanding:

1. The incubation period can be up to eight weeks. This is the single most consequential fact. Passengers who feel fine today may not be in the clear.
2. Human-to-human transmission is documented. In a 2018–19 outbreak in Argentina, 3 cases produced 21 additional cases from close contact. Brief proximity — sitting a few feet from an infected person at a party — was sufficient in some documented cases.
3. Asymptomatic transmission is possible. Infected individuals may pass the virus before they show any obvious signs of illness. The peak transmission window may be split equally before and after symptom onset.
4. Transmission does not require extensive contact. It is less infectious than influenza, but the threshold for spread is lower than initially communicated by authorities.
5. Public health messaging has been inconsistent. The International Hantavirus Society published a corrective challenging WHO guidance on transmission. WHO has since modified some of that guidance.

Watch: Medical Explainer & Latest News

MedCram — Dr. Roger Seheult, MD explains the Andes hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius, human-to-human transmission, and what it means for public health.

ABC News — WHO warns more hantavirus cases may emerge given the level of passenger interaction on the MV Hondius before the outbreak was identified.

What Is the Andes Virus — and Why Is It Different

Of the more than 50 known hantavirus strains, the Andes virus is the only one documented to spread from person to person. All other strains — including Sin Nombre virus, responsible for most U.S. cases — spread only from infected rodents to humans.

Who Should Be Concerned

The WHO, CDC, and ECDC have all stated that the risk to the general public remains very low. The outbreak is contained to those with direct exposure on the MV Hondius or close subsequent contact with confirmed cases. However, the following groups should monitor closely:

• Anyone who was aboard the MV Hondius since its April 1 departure from Ushuaia
• Close contacts of confirmed cases — including household members and healthcare workers who treated patients without full PPE
• People who shared flights or close spaces with disembarked passengers from the April 24 Saint Helena stop
• Residents of Kansas or Minnesota who had high-risk exposure to a confirmed case (currently being monitored by state health departments)

Official Resources

• WHO: Disease Outbreak Notice — MV Hondius, May 2026
• ECDC: Andes Hantavirus Outbreak Update, May 13 2026
• CDC: Hantavirus Outbreak Linked to MV Hondius
• CDC: Hantavirus General Information

Last updated: May 13, 2026. This page provides educational and news information only. Consult a healthcare professional for medical advice. If you were aboard the MV Hondius and are experiencing symptoms, contact your local health department immediately.