Hantavirus Scare on Cruise Ship

Hantavirus Cruise Passengers Deemed High-Risk All passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship are considered high-risk contacts following a hantavirus outbreak, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) announced on Saturday, May 9, 2026. This designation comes as the ship prepares to anchor off Tenerife, Spain, for repatriation efforts.

The ECDC's rapid scientific advice indicates that asymptomatic passengers will be repatriated to their home countries for self-quarantine via specialized transport, avoiding commercial flights. Symptomatic individuals will receive priority for medical assessment and testing upon arrival, with options for isolation in Tenerife or medical evacuation, depending on their condition.

The outbreak has resulted in eight reported illnesses, including three fatalities: a Dutch couple and a German national. Six cases have been confirmed as hantavirus, with two additional suspected cases. While hantavirus is typically spread by rodents, person-to-person transmission is rare, and health authorities assess the overall risk of widespread transmission as low.