At least nine cases have been confirmed
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Your support makes all the difference.Read moreThere are likely to be more hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius, but there is no indication of a wider outbreak, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Tuesday that he expected more cases because of the gap from when the first case was reported and when it was identified as hantavirus.
He added: “At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak, but of course the situation could change and, given the long incubation period of the virus, it's possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.”
At least eleven cases of hantavirus have been confirmed among the passengers on the cruise ship hit by a deadly outbreak. Of those cases, nine have been confirmed as the Andes virus, WHO said.
Earlier on Monday, the last remaining passenger disembarked and boarded flights to their home countries where they were quarantined.
The 20 British passengers, who were tested for hantavirus before getting on the flight on Sunday, have now been taken to isolate at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside upon their arrival at Manchester Airport.
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Key Points
- 'We expect more hantavirus cases', says WHO chief
- Confirmed hantavirus cases rises to 11 as Spanish passenger tests positive
- Passengers from virus-stricken cruise ship fly to home countries for monitoring
- UK Health Official announces contact tracing as cruise ship passengers enter 45-day isolation
- Experts say hantavirus cases unlikely to have started from Ushuaia trip
Confirmed hantavirus cases rises to 11 as Spanish passenger tests positive
The total number of confirmed hantavirus cases has risen to 11.
It comes after a Spanish passenger evacuated from the cruise ship tested positive for the virus.
The World Health Organisation said it has confirmed 11 cases, including three people from the cruise who died.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Madrid that all 11 confirmed cases are among passengers or crew of the MV Hondius cruise ship, including three people who died.
Nine of the 11 cases have been confirmed as the Andes virus.
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 11:37Dutch hospital isolates 12 staff members over hantavirus protocol breach
A Dutch hospital has quarantined 12 of its staff members for six weeks after hantavirus protocol was breached.
The preventative measure comes after blood and urine from a hantavirus patient was handled without observing strict protocols.
The Radboudumc hospital said the infection risk was very low and patient care continued uninterrupted.
“We will carefully investigate the course of events to learn from this so that it can be prevented in the future,” said Bertine Lahuis, the chair of the hospital's executive board.
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 11:16Confirmed hantavirus cases rises to 9
The number of confirmed hantavirus cases is now nine, the World Health Organisation has said.
There are two other suspected cases, which include a person who died before being tested, and one on Tristan da Cunha, a remote South Atlantic island where there were no tests available.
All suspected cases have been isolated and managed under strict medical supervision, minimising any risk of further transmission, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference in Madrid.
“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak but of course the situation could change and given the long incubation period of the virus, it's possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks,” he said.
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 11:15'We think we're in very good shape' Trump says of hantavirusHarriette Boucher12 May 2026 11:00'We expect more hantavirus cases', says WHO chief
There will likely be more hantavirus cases because there was a lot of interaction among passengers before the infection was confirmed, the chief of the World Health Organisation has said.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference: “We would expect more cases because, as you may remember, the first case was on 6 April and until the report was confirmed as infectious around 24/25 April, there was a lot of interaction of the passengers,” Sky News reported.
“As you know, the incubation period is six to eight weeks. Because of the interaction, while they were still on the ship, even as they were taking some preventative measures... we would expect more cases.”
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 10:08French woman on cruise ship was told by doctors that hantavirus symptoms were ‘anxiety’
Maroosha Muzaffar writes:
A French woman who tested positive for hantavirus after she was evacuated from a cruise ship was told by doctors that her flu-like symptoms were probably just anxiety, a Spanish minister has said.
The woman’s condition deteriorated rapidly after her evacuation from the MV Hondius and she is now in a critical state in a Paris hospital, according to the World Health Organisation.
Three people - a Dutch couple and a German national - have died since the start of the outbreak on the ship, which is usually spread by wild rodents but can also be transmitted person-to-person in rare cases of close contact. Eight infections have been confirmed.
Spanish health minister Javier Padilla Bernaldez told the Guardian that her symptoms were not deemed as hantavirus as she had told medics that an episode of coughing she had suffered days before had disappeared.
She said that “what she was having at that moment was kind of like stress or anxiety or nervousness.”
French woman on cruise ship was told that hantavirus symptoms were ‘anxiety’
The MV Hondius passenger is now in a critical condition in a Paris hospitalHarriette Boucher12 May 2026 10:0018 Americans quarantined after flying home from hantavirus-stricken cruise ship as one tests positive for disease
Julia Musto reports:
The 18 Americans, who returned to the U.S. early Monday following a deadly outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship, are quarantined and in “good shape,” public health officials have said.
One of the 18 Americans has tested positive for the rodent-borne virus, which originated on the MV Hondius ocean expedition vessel last month. Three passengers have died in the outbreak, seven others have been infected and two further cases are suspected as of Monday.
More than 140 passengers and crew disembarked in the Spain’s Canary Islands Sunday, where the Americans were met by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection and boarded chartered aircraft to the U.S.
The Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that 16 passengers are in isolation in a specialist quarantine unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, including the positive patient. They do not have symptoms and are under observation. Two others are being monitored at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, due to lack of space in Nebraska, officials said. One of these individuals has received both a positive and negative test for hantavirus but is showing no symptoms.
“The 15 who were welcome here were in good shape, they were in good spirits," Dr. Michael Wadman, Medical Director of the Nebraska’s national quarantine unit, said of passengers who have tested negative. “They definitely were tired and needed some rest, so we did a quick assessment, brought them into the unit, a very smooth, successful, safe transfer.”
18 Americans quarantined after flying home from hantavirus-stricken cruise ship
The infected are believed to have the Andes strain of hantavirus, the only one capable of spreading between humans, according to WHOHarriette Boucher12 May 2026 09:30'Not going to happen' WHO chief says global outbreak not possible
The chief of the World Health Organisation has said there is no risk of the hantavirus spreading across the world.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was asked by Sky News if his presence in Spain indicated that the outbreak was similar to Covid, he said: “It doesn’t show that, because people are concerned, I have to be with them, well knowing full well that the risk is very low.
“But when people are concerned, then I have to take it seriously and I have to be with them to repeat the same message, and support so the operation is successful.”
Asked if there was a risk in letting passengers go onto Spanish soil and spread the virus worldwide, he said: “Based on the assessment, what you are saying is not going to happen.”
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 09:00MV Hondius captain thanks passengers for their 'patience, discipline, and kindness'
The captain of the MV Hondius has praised the crew and passengers for the way they coped during “extremely challenging” times.
In a video message, Jan Dobrogowski said he couldn’t imagine “sailing through these circumstances with a better group of people”.
He said: “I’ve decided to take this time to thank every single guest and crew member on board here, as well as our colleagues back home. The past few weeks have been extremely challenging to us all.
“What touched me the most, what moved me the most, was your patience, your discipline, and also (the) kindness that you showed to each other throughout.”
He added: “I’ve witnessed your caring, your unity and quiet strength amongst everybody on board, guests and crew alike, and I must commend my crew for their courage and the selfless resolve they showed time and again in the most difficult moments.
“I cannot imagine sailing through these circumstances with a better group of people, guests and crew alike. Most importantly, our thoughts are with the ones that are no longer with us.
“Whatever I say will not ease this loss. I’d like you to know they are with us every day, in our hearts and our thoughts.”
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 08:54How does Andes hantavirus spread?
Hantavirus usually spreads from rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases.
Symptoms, which can include fever, chills and muscle aches, usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.
The MV Hondius is seen docked after rough seas disrupted the evacuation of the final passengers in the Granadilla Port on 11 May 2026 in Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands, Spain (Getty)Tedros of the WHO advised that returning passengers should stay in quarantine, either in their homes or in other facilities, for 42 days. He added that WHO cannot enforce its guidance, and that different countries may handle monitoring of passengers without symptoms in different ways.
Numerous countries have said their people will be quarantined or hospitalised for observation.
Namita Singh12 May 2026 08:30Newer1 / 5OlderMore about
HantavirusWorld Health OrganisationTedros Adhanom GhebreyesusWHOJoin our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
At least nine cases have been confirmed
- Bookmark
- CommentsGo to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks
Close popover'We think we're in very good shape' Trump says of hantavirusYour support helps us to tell the story
Read moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Read moreThere are likely to be more hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius, but there is no indication of a wider outbreak, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Tuesday that he expected more cases because of the gap from when the first case was reported and when it was identified as hantavirus.
He added: “At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak, but of course the situation could change and, given the long incubation period of the virus, it's possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.”
At least eleven cases of hantavirus have been confirmed among the passengers on the cruise ship hit by a deadly outbreak. Of those cases, nine have been confirmed as the Andes virus, WHO said.
Earlier on Monday, the last remaining passenger disembarked and boarded flights to their home countries where they were quarantined.
The 20 British passengers, who were tested for hantavirus before getting on the flight on Sunday, have now been taken to isolate at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside upon their arrival at Manchester Airport.
Recommended- ‘This is not Covid’: CDC boss reassures concerned public over hantavirus outbreak as US cruise passengers taken to Nebraska quarantine facility
- 18 Americans quarantined after flying home from hantavirus-stricken cruise ship as one tests positive for disease
- Health experts ‘working with all concerned’ after Hantavirus evacuation flight
- Inside paratroopers death-defying 8,000ft jump onto world’s most remote island to aid suspected UK hantavirus patient
Key Points
- 'We expect more hantavirus cases', says WHO chief
- Confirmed hantavirus cases rises to 11 as Spanish passenger tests positive
- Passengers from virus-stricken cruise ship fly to home countries for monitoring
- UK Health Official announces contact tracing as cruise ship passengers enter 45-day isolation
- Experts say hantavirus cases unlikely to have started from Ushuaia trip
Confirmed hantavirus cases rises to 11 as Spanish passenger tests positive
The total number of confirmed hantavirus cases has risen to 11.
It comes after a Spanish passenger evacuated from the cruise ship tested positive for the virus.
The World Health Organisation said it has confirmed 11 cases, including three people from the cruise who died.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Madrid that all 11 confirmed cases are among passengers or crew of the MV Hondius cruise ship, including three people who died.
Nine of the 11 cases have been confirmed as the Andes virus.
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 11:37Dutch hospital isolates 12 staff members over hantavirus protocol breach
A Dutch hospital has quarantined 12 of its staff members for six weeks after hantavirus protocol was breached.
The preventative measure comes after blood and urine from a hantavirus patient was handled without observing strict protocols.
The Radboudumc hospital said the infection risk was very low and patient care continued uninterrupted.
“We will carefully investigate the course of events to learn from this so that it can be prevented in the future,” said Bertine Lahuis, the chair of the hospital's executive board.
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 11:16Confirmed hantavirus cases rises to 9
The number of confirmed hantavirus cases is now nine, the World Health Organisation has said.
There are two other suspected cases, which include a person who died before being tested, and one on Tristan da Cunha, a remote South Atlantic island where there were no tests available.
All suspected cases have been isolated and managed under strict medical supervision, minimising any risk of further transmission, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference in Madrid.
“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak but of course the situation could change and given the long incubation period of the virus, it's possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks,” he said.
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 11:15'We think we're in very good shape' Trump says of hantavirusHarriette Boucher12 May 2026 11:00'We expect more hantavirus cases', says WHO chief
There will likely be more hantavirus cases because there was a lot of interaction among passengers before the infection was confirmed, the chief of the World Health Organisation has said.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference: “We would expect more cases because, as you may remember, the first case was on 6 April and until the report was confirmed as infectious around 24/25 April, there was a lot of interaction of the passengers,” Sky News reported.
“As you know, the incubation period is six to eight weeks. Because of the interaction, while they were still on the ship, even as they were taking some preventative measures... we would expect more cases.”
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 10:08French woman on cruise ship was told by doctors that hantavirus symptoms were ‘anxiety’
Maroosha Muzaffar writes:
A French woman who tested positive for hantavirus after she was evacuated from a cruise ship was told by doctors that her flu-like symptoms were probably just anxiety, a Spanish minister has said.
The woman’s condition deteriorated rapidly after her evacuation from the MV Hondius and she is now in a critical state in a Paris hospital, according to the World Health Organisation.
Three people - a Dutch couple and a German national - have died since the start of the outbreak on the ship, which is usually spread by wild rodents but can also be transmitted person-to-person in rare cases of close contact. Eight infections have been confirmed.
Spanish health minister Javier Padilla Bernaldez told the Guardian that her symptoms were not deemed as hantavirus as she had told medics that an episode of coughing she had suffered days before had disappeared.
She said that “what she was having at that moment was kind of like stress or anxiety or nervousness.”
French woman on cruise ship was told that hantavirus symptoms were ‘anxiety’
The MV Hondius passenger is now in a critical condition in a Paris hospitalHarriette Boucher12 May 2026 10:0018 Americans quarantined after flying home from hantavirus-stricken cruise ship as one tests positive for disease
Julia Musto reports:
The 18 Americans, who returned to the U.S. early Monday following a deadly outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship, are quarantined and in “good shape,” public health officials have said.
One of the 18 Americans has tested positive for the rodent-borne virus, which originated on the MV Hondius ocean expedition vessel last month. Three passengers have died in the outbreak, seven others have been infected and two further cases are suspected as of Monday.
More than 140 passengers and crew disembarked in the Spain’s Canary Islands Sunday, where the Americans were met by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection and boarded chartered aircraft to the U.S.
The Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that 16 passengers are in isolation in a specialist quarantine unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, including the positive patient. They do not have symptoms and are under observation. Two others are being monitored at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, due to lack of space in Nebraska, officials said. One of these individuals has received both a positive and negative test for hantavirus but is showing no symptoms.
“The 15 who were welcome here were in good shape, they were in good spirits," Dr. Michael Wadman, Medical Director of the Nebraska’s national quarantine unit, said of passengers who have tested negative. “They definitely were tired and needed some rest, so we did a quick assessment, brought them into the unit, a very smooth, successful, safe transfer.”
18 Americans quarantined after flying home from hantavirus-stricken cruise ship
The infected are believed to have the Andes strain of hantavirus, the only one capable of spreading between humans, according to WHOHarriette Boucher12 May 2026 09:30'Not going to happen' WHO chief says global outbreak not possible
The chief of the World Health Organisation has said there is no risk of the hantavirus spreading across the world.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was asked by Sky News if his presence in Spain indicated that the outbreak was similar to Covid, he said: “It doesn’t show that, because people are concerned, I have to be with them, well knowing full well that the risk is very low.
“But when people are concerned, then I have to take it seriously and I have to be with them to repeat the same message, and support so the operation is successful.”
Asked if there was a risk in letting passengers go onto Spanish soil and spread the virus worldwide, he said: “Based on the assessment, what you are saying is not going to happen.”
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 09:00MV Hondius captain thanks passengers for their 'patience, discipline, and kindness'
The captain of the MV Hondius has praised the crew and passengers for the way they coped during “extremely challenging” times.
In a video message, Jan Dobrogowski said he couldn’t imagine “sailing through these circumstances with a better group of people”.
He said: “I’ve decided to take this time to thank every single guest and crew member on board here, as well as our colleagues back home. The past few weeks have been extremely challenging to us all.
“What touched me the most, what moved me the most, was your patience, your discipline, and also (the) kindness that you showed to each other throughout.”
He added: “I’ve witnessed your caring, your unity and quiet strength amongst everybody on board, guests and crew alike, and I must commend my crew for their courage and the selfless resolve they showed time and again in the most difficult moments.
“I cannot imagine sailing through these circumstances with a better group of people, guests and crew alike. Most importantly, our thoughts are with the ones that are no longer with us.
“Whatever I say will not ease this loss. I’d like you to know they are with us every day, in our hearts and our thoughts.”
Harriette Boucher12 May 2026 08:54How does Andes hantavirus spread?
Hantavirus usually spreads from rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases.
Symptoms, which can include fever, chills and muscle aches, usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.
The MV Hondius is seen docked after rough seas disrupted the evacuation of the final passengers in the Granadilla Port on 11 May 2026 in Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands, Spain (Getty)Tedros of the WHO advised that returning passengers should stay in quarantine, either in their homes or in other facilities, for 42 days. He added that WHO cannot enforce its guidance, and that different countries may handle monitoring of passengers without symptoms in different ways.
Numerous countries have said their people will be quarantined or hospitalised for observation.
Namita Singh12 May 2026 08:30Newer1 / 5OlderMore about
HantavirusWorld Health OrganisationTedros Adhanom GhebreyesusWHOJoin our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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