MV Hondius outbreak expands as Dutch authorities confirm new infection

A crew member of the MV Hondius cruise ship who disembarked in Spain’s Canary Islands and was later repatriated to the Netherlands has tested positive for hantavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed.

According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the case involves an individual who left the vessel in Tenerife before being transferred to the Netherlands, The Peninsula reports.

“Today, the Netherlands confirmed an additional case among a crew member who disembarked in Tenerife, was repatriated to the Netherlands and has been isolating since then,” Tedros said during a press briefing.

He said the development brings the total number of suspected and confirmed cases to 12, including three deaths.

Tedros added that no new deaths had been reported since May 2, when the outbreak was first notified to the WHO. “We continue to urge affected countries to monitor all passengers and crew carefully for the remainder of the quarantine period,” he said.

“More than 600 contacts continue to be followed in 30 countries, and a small number of high-risk contacts are still being located,” he added.

Dutch health authorities confirmed that the infected crew member has been admitted to hospital as a precaution. The Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) said: “The Andes virus has been detected in one person who was in quarantine in the Netherlands. The patient has since been admitted to the hospital as a precaution and is in isolation.”

Officials noted that the Andes strain is the only hantavirus variant known to be capable of human-to-human transmission. The individual had been in home quarantine, and the positive result was confirmed by two independent laboratories.

Authorities urged calm, stating: “The RIVM understands that this news may raise questions or concerns. However, the chance of further spread in the Netherlands remains very small.”

The MV Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, travelling through remote islands in the South Atlantic before heading north to Cape Verde and then Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The vessel later docked in Rotterdam on Monday, with its remaining crew placed under quarantine.

All evacuated passengers and crew are being tested weekly. Dutch authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, while emphasising that hantavirus infections remain rare and are typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents, with no approved vaccines or specific treatments currently available.

By Vafa Guliyeva