WHO declares hantavirus outbreak linked to expedition ship MV Hondius over

Geneva – 02.07.2026: The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has declared the acute phase of the hantavirus infection wave linked to the expedition ship MV Hondius to be over. With this, the WHO closes an internationally coordinated response phase that had been in place since mid‑May, which began when the first infections on board became known. According to the WHO, a small number of confirmed cases were recorded; most potentially exposed people have now completed the prescribed observation and quarantine period without symptoms.

The WHO attributes the pathogen to the Andes virus, a rare hantavirus variant from South America that can, in exceptional cases, be transmitted from person to person. Experts emphasize that hantavirus infections are rare outside endemic regions and typically spread through contact with infected rodents or their excreta. Against this background, the organization views the limited number of cases and the absence of new transmission chains as signs that the immediate danger has been contained.

The repatriation of passengers and crew from the port of Tenerife and other stopovers was carried out in close coordination with the Spanish health authorities, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and several affected countries. UN representatives in Geneva highlighted the functioning reporting chains, the rapid contact tracing and the medical care provided. Shipping company Oceanwide Expeditions says it is cooperating with authorities; procedures on board are being reviewed to develop preventive recommendations for future voyages.

Despite the all-clear, the WHO urges vigilance. Due to the variable incubation period of the Andes virus, clinical follow-up and laboratory diagnostic confirmation will remain important in the coming weeks. National authorities have been asked to maintain surveillance structures, continue monitoring close contacts and promptly report suspected cases. For the general public, the WHO assesses the risk of spread beyond the directly affected environment as low, provided standard hygiene, reporting obligations and protective measures are observed.

Epidemiological reconstructions are underway to identify the possible source of introduction. Indications point to a traveler with a prior stay in South America; verified details are not yet available. At the same time, the WHO is analyzing data to clarify open questions on transmissibility, diagnostic pathways and clinical treatment. The aim is to sharpen guidelines for expedition travel, ports and cruise operators—particularly for routes that include contact points with regions where hantaviruses are prevalent.

With the declaration, the emergency phase formally ends, but not the review process. Partner organizations have announced that they will review response protocols and communication procedures. Lessons learned from the operation will be incorporated into updated recommendations for operators, port authorities and tour operators in order to detect and contain similar events more quickly in the future.