The World Health Organization (WHO) has moved to reassure the public over a Hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, stressing that there is no indication of a developing global pandemic and describing the overall risk as low.
Speaking on Thursday, May 7, 2026, WHO officials said Hantavirus transmission differs significantly from respiratory infections such as COVID-19, noting that it is mainly spread through close contact rather than airborne routes.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s infectious disease epidemiologist, said the situation remains confined to the vessel and should not be compared with past pandemics.
“This is not SARS-CoV-2. This is not the start of a COVID pandemic. This is an outbreak that we see on a ship,” she said, explaining that the Andes strain spreads through prolonged and close interaction.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus confirmed eight cases, including three deaths, with five laboratory confirmed and three still under investigation.
READ ALSO: WHO Traces Passengers After Hantavirus Death Linked To Cruise Ship
He said Hantaviruses are generally transmitted from rodents through contact with contaminated fluids, but noted that the Andes virus is the only strain known to allow limited human-to-human spread, typically in prolonged close-contact settings.
Tedros added that the outbreak pattern aligns with previous Andes virus incidents.
The first patient developed symptoms on April 9, 2026, but was not initially tested for Hantavirus. The patient’s wife later died in Johannesburg, South Africa, where infection was confirmed after disembarking at St Helena.
He warned that more cases could emerge due to an incubation period of up to six weeks, though the broader public health risk remains low.
Tedros also said he had spoken with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez earlier in the week to secure arrangements for the ship’s reception.
The MV Hondius is now heading to Spain’s Canary Islands, with passengers ordered to remain in cabins and symptomatic individuals to be isolated immediately on arrival.