Hantavirus Confirmed In Crew Member

A new case of hantavirus has been confirmed in a crew member connected to the deadly outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The infected crew member had left the ship in Tenerife and was later taken back to the Netherlands, where the person was already under quarantine before testing positive. Health officials said the patient is currently isolated and receiving medical care while investigations continue into the outbreak linked to the ship.

The MV Hondius outbreak first raised international concern earlier this month after several passengers and crew members developed severe respiratory illness during the cruise. WHO said the outbreak is linked to the Andes virus strain of hantavirus, which is considered rare but dangerous. The Andes strain is the only known hantavirus that can sometimes spread from person to person through very close contact, although experts say such transmission remains uncommon.

According to WHO, the latest crew member infection brings the total number of confirmed hantavirus cases linked to the cruise ship outbreak to 12. At least three people have died during the outbreak, while several others remain under observation or treatment in different countries. The cruise ship carried around 150 passengers and crew members from more than 20 countries, leading health authorities worldwide to begin contact tracing and quarantine measures.

The outbreak began after passengers started reporting flu-like symptoms, breathing difficulties and high fever during the voyage. Some critically ill patients were evacuated from the ship for emergency treatment as the vessel traveled across the Atlantic Ocean. WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said investigations are still ongoing to understand how the virus spread onboard.

Health experts explained that hantaviruses are usually carried by rodents and can spread to humans through contact with infected rodent urine, saliva or droppings. In severe cases, the infection can lead to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, a dangerous respiratory illness that can become life-threatening. WHO stressed that the overall global risk from the outbreak remains low, but authorities are continuing to monitor passengers and crew carefully until quarantine periods are completed.

Several countries, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, are continuing health checks on passengers who traveled on the ship. Medical teams are also studying whether experimental antiviral treatments may help infected patients recover faster. Officials said strict monitoring and early isolation remain important to prevent any further spread of the virus.