MV Hondius Cruise Ship (registered in multiple countries, operating in the Americas)

PAHO published a Q&A session on 2026-05-08 addressing a hantavirus outbreak associated with the cruise ship MV Hondius. The article reports regional hantavirus data as of epidemiological week 15 of 2026, with 94 confirmed cases and 13 deaths across six countries: Chile (38 cases, 13 deaths), Argentina (32 cases), Bolivia (11 cases), Brazil (3 cases), Panama (8 cases), and Paraguay (2 cases). Most cases are sporadic in endemic zones, not all associated with Andes virus. PAHO emphasized that the general population risk is low and the outbreak is limited to cruise ship passengers/crew and close contacts. The Andes virus, found mainly in Argentina and Chile, is the only hantavirus strain showing limited person-to-person transmission, requiring prolonged close contact in poorly ventilated spaces. Symptoms include fever, malaise, headache, nausea, and respiratory distress. No specific antiviral treatment or vaccine exists; management is supportive care in ICU settings.