⚠ Not a medical resource.
This timeline aggregates public news and official reports for awareness
only. For health guidance, see the
CDC
or your local health authority.
Latest numbers
What we know
- Vessel: MV Hondius, an expedition cruise ship operating near West Africa
- Strain: Andes strain of hantavirus — rare but potentially severe
- Key risk: Andes strain is one of the few hantavirus strains with documented human-to-human transmission in close-contact settings
- Current status: Ship under quarantine protocols; passengers and crew being monitored
- Countries affected or monitoring: UK, Netherlands, France, USA, Chile, Brazil, Spain, Singapore
Timeline
10 May 2026
Case #36 reported — French passenger began experiencing symptoms on a repatriation flight back to France.
7 May 2026
WHO DON600 published — WHO confirms 3 additional suspected cases turned positive, plus 1 new confirmed case. Total: 5 confirmed, 8 suspected, 3 deaths. UK Health Security Agency reports 2 British nationals who left the ship at St. Helena on 24 April are isolating at home as a precaution.
6 May 2026
Spain prepares — Ship expected to arrive at Granadilla port, Tenerife, within days. Spain’s Health Minister Mónica García confirms reception protocols.
4 May 2026
WHO DON599 — Initial WHO Disease Outbreak News published on the multi-country cluster linked to cruise-ship travel.
2 May 2026
Third death on board — Third fatality confirmed aboard the MV Hondius.
Late April 2026
Outbreak begins — Initial cases detected aboard the MV Hondius near West Africa. Ship placed under health monitoring.
Related strains
The Andes strain is one of several hantavirus strains.
Unlike the more common Sin Nombre strain (found primarily in the Americas),
Andes has been documented to spread between humans in close-contact
situations — making cruise-ship outbreaks particularly concerning.
For a general overview of symptoms and prevention, see our
symptoms page.
Official sources