The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has stated that the public health risk to Europeans from the hantavirus outbreak detected on a cruise ship in the Atlantic remains very low. The agency confirmed on Monday that appropriate infection prevention measures are being implemented on board the vessel, and that hantaviruses are not easily transmitted between people.
The World Health Organization has identified seven cases on the m/v Hondius, operated by the Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions. Among those, three passengers have died, one is critically ill, and three others have reported mild symptoms. The ship, which set off with 149 people on board, is currently anchored off the coast of Cabo Verde, where local health authorities have refused to allow disembarkation.
Investigating Human-to-Human Transmission
While the exact origin of the infections is still under investigation, the WHO said on Tuesday that it is considering the possibility of human-to-human transmission on the ship. Maria Van Kerkhove, director of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention at the WHO, noted: “We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that's happening among the really close contacts, the husband and wife, people who have shared cabins, et cetera.”
Spain's Ministry of Health confirmed on Tuesday that a team of epidemiologists will board the vessel to screen passengers for symptoms and assess the risk, in a move coordinated with the WHO. “This will help inform decisions regarding the repatriation processes and the vessel's route,” the Ministry said in a post on X.
The ECDC noted that most hantaviruses do not transmit directly from person to person. The exception is the Andes virus strain, found mainly in parts of South America, which has been shown to spread between people through close and prolonged contact. “It is not yet known whether transmission in the current outbreak occurred through environmental exposure or between individuals, and the specific hantavirus involved has not yet been identified,” the agency added.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus refers to a group of viruses carried by rodents, primarily transmitted to humans through the inhalation of airborne particles from dried rodent droppings. Contact with infected rodents or their urine, saliva, or droppings — especially when these materials are disturbed and become airborne — is the primary way it spreads.
The infection can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), characterised by headaches, dizziness, chills, fever, muscle pain and gastrointestinal problems, followed by the onset of respiratory distress and hypotension. According to the WHO, symptoms of HPS typically appear two to four weeks after initial exposure to the virus, though they may appear as early as one week and as late as eight weeks following exposure.
For a more detailed explanation of the virus and its transmission, see our explainer: Hantavirus: Symptoms, Spread, and the Cruise Ship Outbreak Explained.
Current Situation on the Ship
Oceanwide Expeditions said in a statement that the atmosphere on board remains calm, with passengers generally composed. The company confirmed that two members of the crew presented acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe, and both required urgent medical care. Dutch authorities are actively preparing a medical evacuation of the two symptomatic individuals, along with the individual associated with the guest who passed away on 2 May. “At this time, no other persons with symptoms have been identified,” the statement continued.
This outbreak follows a broader pattern of health security challenges in Europe, as highlighted by recent reports on attacks on healthcare: Red Cross, WHO, MSF Warn of Political Failure as Attacks on Healthcare Intensify. For more background on the outbreak, read our earlier coverage: Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Dutch Cruise Ship Claims Three Lives in the Atlantic.
