On 2 May 2026, ECDC was notified of a cluster of severe respiratory illness on MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship with passengers and crew from 23 countries, including nine EU/EEA countries.
The virus has been identified as Andes hantavirus.
As of 17 May, a total of twelve cases have been reported, including nine confirmed, two probable, and one inconclusive.
No new deaths have been reported since the previous update.
On 16 May 2026, Canada reported that a passenger of the cruise ship tested presumptively positive for Andes hantavirus.
The person who was already under quarantine and has mild symptoms (as of 16 May, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada).
Given the available information this case is classified as confirmed.
The identification of additional cases after former passengers and crew have returned to their home country is expected given the long incubation period of Andes hantavirus and the possibility that some infections occurred on board on the ship.
The risk to the EU/EEA general population remains very low.
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° Confirmed cases***: 9
° Probable cases**: 2
° Suspected cases*: 0
° Inconclusive cases****: 1
° Number of deaths: 3
Notes
{*} A suspected case is a person who has been on or visited the same transport (e.g. ship or plane) where a confirmed or probable Andes hantavirus (ANDV) case was present,
- OR -
- has been in contact with a passenger or crew member of the MV Hondius since 5 April,
- AND -
- has a fever (currently or recently), plus at least one of the following symptoms:
- muscle aches
- chills
- headache
- stomach problems (such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or abdominal pain)
- breathing problems (such as cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or difficulty breathing)
{**} A probable case is a person who has the symptoms listed above, and is known to have been in contact with a confirmed or probable ANDV case
{***} A confirmed case is a person who meets the suspected or probable case definition, and has a laboratory test that confirms ANDV infection (PCR or antibody test)
{****} An inconclusive case means awaiting further laboratory investigations.
Non-case: A non-case is a person who was initially considered a suspected or probable case, but tests negative for ANDV using laboratory tests (PCR or antibody test).
Source:
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