The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an advisory on Saturday confirming that hantavirus cases have risen to 8 as of May 8, 2026.
The organisation also confirmed that as of May 8, 2026, hantavirus has caused 3 deaths, resulting in a case fatality ratio of 38%.
The outbreak has been laboratory-confirmed as the Andes virus (ANDV), a specific strain of hantavirus known for its high severity and its rare ability to transmit between humans.
The ship, which departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, carried 147 people across ecologically diverse regions, including Antarctica and several remote islands.
“As of 8 May, a total of 8 cases, including 3 deaths, have been reported”, the statement on hantavirus reads in part.
It added that six cases are confirmed as Andes virus, four patients are currently hospitalised, while one case previously reported as suspected has now been reclassified as a non-case after testing negative for Andes (ANDV) virus through specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology.
Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and can occasionally spread to people.
It noted that epidemiological investigations are underway to determine the source of exposure, including the travel history and potential exposures of the first case, adding that one of its experts and one from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control are currently on board the cruise ship to provide support to the passengers, crews, and ship operators during the journey.
During the cruise, which was travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde off west Africa, “illness onset occurred between 6 and 28 April 2026,” WHO said.
It was “characterised by fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rapid progression to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock,” it said, adding that “further investigations are ongoing”.
WHO stressed that it assessed the risk to the global population from the outbreak as “low”, adding that it would continue to monitor the situation.
Passengers from Britain, Spain, and the United States, as well as crew from the Philippines, were among 23 nationalities aboard the MV Hondius, which WHO said was carrying 147 people.
The Organisation on Saturday said the United States is among 12 countries with nationals who have already left the ship, on the remote British island of Saint Helena, on April 24.
The United States said Friday it was organising an evacuation flight for Americans on a hantavirus-struck cruise ship that has sailed to the Canary Islands, which are part of Spain.
“The Department of State is arranging a repatriation flight to support the safe return of American passengers on this ship,” a State Department spokesperson said.
The State Department said it was coordinating with the Spanish government as well as other US federal agencies.
“We are in direct communication with Americans on board and are prepared to provide consular assistance as soon as the ship arrives in Tenerife, Spain,” the spokesperson said on condition of anonymity.
The ship operator earlier said that 17 Americans were on board.
The only hantavirus strain that can transmit from person to person — Andes virus — has been confirmed among those who have tested positive, fueling international concern.
WHO noted that it has developed and shared technical guidance documents in support of countries affected by the event, including covering management of the event on the ship, investigation of cases, disembarkation, and management of returning passengers and crew members.
“An adult male, who disembarked in Tristan da Cunha on 14 April, is currently stable and in isolation.
“He is currently a probable case until laboratory confirmation.
“Passengers who travelled on the same flight from St Helena to South Africa along with one of the confirmed cases have been contacted.
“To date, 75 contacts have been identified in South Africa, of whom 42 have been traced by national authorities and are currently under monitoring”, the statement added.
