World
WHO confirms hantavirus cases linked to cruise ship outbreak
Seven confirmed infections and three deaths reported among MV Hondius passengers
An ambulance departs the air base on the day passengers of the cruise ship MV Hondius, which was affected by a hantavirus outbreak, arrive at the Eindhoven Air Base, Netherlands May 10, 2026. REUTERS
London: Seven cases of the Andes hantavirus have been confirmed among passengers of a cruise ship, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
The agency updated the total number of reported cases to nine after France confirmed that a passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius had tested positive for the virus, a WHO spokesperson said in an email.
Two of the nine cases are suspected hantavirus infections, including the individual believed to be the first infected in the outbreak, who died before being tested.
In total, three people have died in the outbreak, the WHO said.