Could The MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak Become The Next COVID-19?

A rare Andes hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has sparked global concern after multiple deaths and confirmed human-to-human transmission cases. Here’s what WHO says, how hantavirus spreads, and why experts are closely monitoring the situation.

A deadly virus outbreak on a cruise ship is raising concerns across the world.

The World Health Organization says a cluster of severe respiratory illness cases was reported aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius on May 2, 2026.

The ship was carrying around 150 passengers and crew during a 35-day expedition that began from Argentina in March.

As of today, there are eight reported cases linked to the outbreak. Three of those cases have been confirmed as hantavirus through laboratory testing and three people have also died.

Health officials say the virus involved is the Andes strain of hantavirus. And that is what makes this outbreak especially concerning. Because unlike most hantaviruses, the Andes strain is capable of spreading from human to human.