Twenty-three passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship have returned home to countries across the globe after unknowingly being exposed to a deadly hantavirus strain, according to authorities. One individual—a man from Switzerland—has already tested positive with symptoms, while a French passenger who came into contact with this infected person during travel has also confirmed infection.
The outbreak traces back to a stop at Saint Helena in late March when the Dutch vessel paused for two days. Argentine investigators determined that a Dutch couple contracted the Andes virus strain by handling rodents near a landfill in Ushuaia, Argentina, prior to the ship’s departure on March 20. Both individuals later died from complications of the virus.
Unlike typical hantavirus transmission via rodent droppings, this specific strain—the Andes virus—can spread through direct human-to-human contact and may remain dormant for up to eight weeks before symptoms emerge. The virus has a mortality rate of up to 40%, but experts emphasize it requires prolonged, close contact to transmit, such as during shared meals or extended conversations.
Authorities confirmed that the Swiss passenger was initially treated in Zurich and tested negative, though he later became ill—a timeline consistent with the virus’s incubation period. Passengers were only informed of their exposure days after symptoms began, according to a source speaking to Spanish media. Global health officials have initiated contact tracing efforts but warn widespread infection is unlikely due to the virus’s limited contagiousness compared to respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.