Cruise ship - Hantavirus - May 3+ - As of May 22 per WHO: 13 total cases, 3 total deaths - WHO considers the outbreak over (July 2, 2026)

[Pathfinder]

Regarding Oceanwide Expeditions’ statement about the 12 April 2026 Hondius announcement video posted above (#86)​:

Passenger dies aboard cruise ship amid hantavirus outbreak | GMA News

...
7 May 2026 #GMANews #SerbisyongTotoo #BreakingNews
PASSENGER DIES DURING HANTAVIRUS-HIT CRUISE VOYAGE WATCH:

Video shared on social media showed the captain of a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak informing passengers on April 12, 2026, that one person had died on board.

In the footage recorded aboard the MV Hondius, Captain Jan Dobrogowski told passengers it was his “sad duty” to announce the death, adding that doctors believed it was due to natural causes and not linked to a contagious illness, assuring passengers that “the ship is safe.”

A second announcement heard in the video said the passenger had been ill for several days and had received intensive care before dying, adding the ship had changed course toward Tristan da Cunha to meet authorities and complete necessary formalities.
...
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGEgnxrDAt8​

 

[Pathfinder]

Spain MoH

Translation Google

The Spanish Government is holding seven coordination meetings today with the countries involved and with the Government of the Canary Islands.

• Mónica García and Ángel Víctor Torres have met with the President of the Canary Islands to analyze the situation and the procedure to follow for the transfer of the passengers of the MV Hondius.
• Anchoring the ship in Granadilla (Tenerife) is an option that was already being considered due to the technical characteristics of the Port, which is not prepared for the disembarkation of people.

​

Madrid, May 7, 2026 - The Minister of Health, Mónica García, and the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, held an information meeting today with the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Health, regarding the protocols that will be followed with the passengers of the MV Hondius who will disembark in the Canary Islands, for their control and subsequent transfer to Madrid, in the case of the 14 Spaniards, and to their countries of origin, in the case of the rest of the passengers.

This meeting is part of the ongoing communication that has existed between the Government of Spain and the Government of the Canary Islands at both a technical and institutional level since the beginning of the hantavirus health crisis.

Ministers García and Torres have expressed their full willingness to assist since learning of the infections on the cruise ship and their commitment to ensuring that the transfers are carried out with the utmost safety for both the patients and the public. In this regard, the Canary Islands president has been informed that the 147 passengers currently en route to the Canary Islands from Cape Verde remain asymptomatic and that the option of anchoring the ship upon arrival at the Port of Granadilla (Tenerife) was already being considered for various reasons, including the port's technical limitations, as it is not equipped for disembarking passengers.

In addition to appealing for responsibility and trust in science, the ministers recalled that today, as has been the case since Tuesday, two more technical meetings are planned between the Ministries of Health and the Interior with the Government of the Canary Islands, which are part of the seven coordination meetings that the Government of Spain will hold today with the Government delegations and, at the European level, with those responsible for health security and Civil Protection of the EU.

​https://www.sanidad.gob.es/en/gabinete/notasPrensa.do?id=6902

 

[Pathfinder]

​

DSHS statement on Texas residents who were on board the MV Hondius

News Release
May 7, 2026

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has notified DSHS that two Texas residents were passengers on the MV Hondius, a ship that experienced an outbreak of hantavirus while traveling in the Atlantic Ocean. The passengers left the ship and returned to the United States before the outbreak was identified.

Public health workers in Texas have reached the two individuals, and they report they are not experiencing any symptoms and did not have any contact with a sick person while aboard the ship. They have agreed to monitor themselves for symptoms with daily temperature checks and contact public health officials at any sign of a possible illness.

Hantaviruses are usually spread through contact with wild rodent droppings or urine. The strain in the Hondius outbreak, Andes virus, can spread from person to person in limited circumstances. It typically requires close, prolonged contact with a person who is actively sick with the disease. It is not known to spread through casual contact such as shaking hands or being in the same room for a few minutes. There have been no documented cases where a person without symptoms spread it to someone else.

DSHS will not release additional personal details about the passengers in order to protect their privacy.

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/dshs-statement-texas-residents-who-were-board-mv-hondius
​

 

[Pathfinder]

WHO’s response to hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship

7 May 2026 Note for Media Geneva Reading time: 1 min (297 words)

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, briefed media today on a cluster of hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship, the MV Hondius.

Eight cases have been reported so far, including three deaths. Five of the 8 cases have been confirmed as hantavirus.

The hantavirus involved is the Andes virus, the only species known to be capable of limited transmission between humans, linked to close and prolonged contact.

Describing the situation, Dr Tedros said, “While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low.” He noted that given the incubation period, “it’s possible that more cases may be reported.”

WHO is coordinating closely with multiple countries under the International Health Regulations or IHR, rules that define the rights and obligations of countries and WHO in responding to public health events. This event demonstrates why the IHR exist, demonstrating the importance of global cooperation and solidarity in responding to health threats that know no borders.

“Our priorities are to ensure the affected patients receive care, that the remaining passengers on the ship are kept safe and treated with dignity, and to prevent any further spread of the virus,” Dr Tedros said.

WHO has taken a number of actions since it was notified of the situation on Saturday, 2 May 2026. The latest of these include deploying an expert on board the ship, to support a comprehensive medical assessment of all passengers and crew, while gathering critical information to evaluate their risk of infection.

WHO has arranged for the shipment of 2500 diagnostic kits from Argentina to laboratories in five countries to strengthen testing capacity. The Organization is also developing step-by-step operational guidance for the safe and respectful disembarkation and onward travel of passengers and crew when they arrive.

Watch the full press conference

https://www.who.int/news/item/07-05-2026-who-s-response-to-hantavirus-cases-linked-to-a-cruise-ship

 

[Michael Coston]

UKHSA Hantavirus Update: Cryptic Mention of a Suspected Case on Tristan Da Cunha

#19,149

The online signal-to-noise ratio regarding the hantavirus outbreak continues to degrade with several `false alarms' making the rounds yesterday, and the arrival of the highly vocal `plandemic' contingent, who view this outbreak as some sort of vast global conspiracy.

Finding credible, informative, reports is made even more difficult by the tendency of governments to downplay risks to reassure a nervous public.​

While I still believe this outbreak should be containable - there are a lot of moving parts - many of which we probably aren't aware of. It now appears at least 30 people left the ship before the outbreak was recognized, and some may have had opportunities to spread the virus.

All of which brings us to the UK's HSA announcement this morning that they are aware of a `suspected' case on Tristan Da Cunha (stop #5 on the map above); a small volcanic island in the south Atlantic that is home to > 200 Brits.​

Exactly why they suspect this person is infected - or their condition - is not stated. Nor do they say how the person was likely exposed (was this a passenger, a local resident, etc.?).

If confirmed (and that's still an `if'), this would be a significant turn of events.​

First today's statement, after which I'll have a bit more.

Statement from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)


The UK government continues to work with international authorities in preparing for the arrival of British nationals to the UK from the MV Hondius cruise ship where an outbreak of Hantavirus was confirmed by the World Health Organization.

Two British nationals have confirmed hantavirus, with an additional suspected case of a British national on Tristan da Cunha. None of the British citizens onboard are currently reporting symptoms but they are being closely monitored.

The ship is expected to dock in Tenerife on Sunday, according to the latest updates from the Spanish Health Ministry. UK government staff will be on the ground ready to support the British nationals disembarking. British Passengers and ship crew not displaying any symptoms of hantavirus will be escorted by UK Government staff to an airport and given free passage back to the UK.

FCDO and UKHSA teams will be on the ground to support these arrangements, bolstered by a Rapid Deployment Team sent from the UK. The FCDO is chartering a dedicated repatriation flight for British ship passengers and crew only. This flight will be free of charge.

UKHSA is working with partners to ensure the flight operates under strict infection control measures. Public health and infectious disease specialists from UKHSA and the NHS will be on board to monitor British Nationals whilst on the flight, to ensure that preventative measures are in place and to provide any care in the unlikely event that any passengers become unwell on the flight.

All British passengers and crew on board the MV Hondius will be asked to isolate for 45 days upon returning to the UK and UKHSA will closely monitor these individuals, with testing as required.

Follow up is already underway for individuals who may have been in contact with cases and have since returned to the UK or are in in UK Overseas Territories. The UK government will ensure those self-isolating are given appropriate support.

UKHSA is aware of seven British Nationals who disembarked the ship at St Helena on 24 April.

Two of those people have returned to the UK independently and are isolating at home in the UK. Neither of these individuals is currently reporting symptoms. They are receiving advice and support from UKHSA and have been advised to self-isolate.

Four of these individuals remain in St Helena. A seventh individual has been traced outside of the UK.

The FCDO is in direct contact with the ship and British nationals on board and has stood up consular teams across multiple countries to support British nationals. UK government is working very closely with international partners in response to this incident, including the cruise ship operator and the governments of UK overseas territories which were visited by the ship. UK government teams are working at pace to get medical support to all affected Overseas Territories. The Ministry of Defence has worked with UKHSA to provide vital diagnostic supplies, including PCR tests, which were delivered to Ascension Island via a military plane on 7 May.

The risk to the general public remains very low.

Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Officer at UKHSA, said:

This is an evolving situation, and we are working closely with partners to support British Nationals on board the MV Hondius.

The risk to the general population remains very low and the public can be reassured that established infection control measures will be put in place at every step of the journey to ensure the safe repatriation of British passengers on board.

Further information on the repatriation of British nationals will be provided in due course.​

While it may turn out due more to an unfortunate series of events than anything else, the world's health agencies became aware of this outbreak weeks after it started, and are playing catch up.

Dozens of potentially infected individuals have scattered around the world, and they have had contact with hundreds - perhaps thousands - of people.​

Luckily, most won't have been infected, and based on past Andes virus outbreaks, transmission should be limited. At least that's the assumption right now.

The UK has signaled its intention to have people to `isolate' (technically quarantine) for 45 days after returning to the UK. Note: I suspect someone, somewhere, has determined that `quarantine' is a scarier word than `isolate', but I digress.​

Right now, it isn't clear whether all other countries will follow suit, or whether they'll get the cooperation they'll need from those exposed. While unpopular, quarantine has proven its worth many times, including in halting the 2018-2019 outbreak of the Andes Virus in Argentina.

Hopefully we'll take those lessons seriously.
​

https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2026/05/ukhsa-hantavirus-update-cryptic-mention.html

 

[Commonground]

Flight attendant tests negative for hantavirus; new case suspected on remote island

​May 8, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT / Updated May 8, 2026, 7:27 AM EDT​

A flight attendant who was not onboard the cruise ship at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak has tested negative for the virus, the World Health Organization said Friday.​

-snip-
On Friday, British authorities confirmed a new suspected case on the tiny Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth with about 220 permanent residents.

continued: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/heal...avirus-new-case-suspected-remote-i-rcna344191

 

[Commonground]

8 May Statement from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)


The UK government continues to work with international authorities in preparing for the arrival of British nationals to the UK from the MV Hondius cruise ship where an outbreak of Hantavirus was confirmed by the World Health Organization.

Two British nationals have confirmed hantavirus, with an additional suspected case of a British national on Tristan da Cunha. None of the British citizens onboard are currently reporting symptoms but they are being closely monitored.

The ship is expected to dock in Tenerife on Sunday, according to the latest updates from the Spanish Health Ministry. UK government staff will be on the ground ready to support the British nationals disembarking. British Passengers and ship crew not displaying any symptoms of hantavirus will be escorted by UK Government staff to an airport and given free passage back to the UK.

FCDO and UKHSA teams will be on the ground to support these arrangements, bolstered by a Rapid Deployment Team sent from the UK. The FCDO is chartering a dedicated repatriation flight for British ship passengers and crew only. This flight will be free of charge.

UKHSA is working with partners to ensure the flight operates under strict infection control measures. Public health and infectious disease specialists from UKHSA and the NHS will be on board to monitor British Nationals whilst on the flight, to ensure that preventative measures are in place and to provide any care in the unlikely event that any passengers become unwell on the flight.

All British passengers and crew on board the MV Hondius will be asked to isolate for 45 days upon returning to the UK and UKHSA will closely monitor these individuals, with testing as required.

Follow up is already underway for individuals who may have been in contact with cases and have since returned to the UK or are in in UK Overseas Territories. The UK government will ensure those self-isolating are given appropriate support.

UKHSA is aware of seven British Nationals who disembarked the ship at St Helena on 24 April.

Two of those people have returned to the UK independently and are isolating at home in the UK. Neither of these individuals is currently reporting symptoms. They are receiving advice and support from UKHSA and have been advised to self-isolate.

Four of these individuals remain in St Helena. A seventh individual has been traced outside of the UK.

The FCDO is in direct contact with the ship and British nationals on board and has stood up consular teams across multiple countries to support British nationals. UK government is working very closely with international partners in response to this incident, including the cruise ship operator and the governments of UK overseas territories which were visited by the ship. UK government teams are working at pace to get medical support to all affected Overseas Territories. The Ministry of Defence has worked with UKHSA to provide vital diagnostic supplies, including PCR tests, which were delivered to Ascension Island via a military plane on 7 May.

The risk to the general public remains very low.
​
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-update-on-the-hantavirus-cruise-ship-outbreak

 

[Commonground]

Spain says it has detected suspected hantavirus case in Alicante

​Updated / Friday, 8 May 2026 13:48

A woman ⁠in Alicante has symptoms consistent with a hantavirus infection, ‌Spain's health ministry has said.

The suspected case involves ‌a woman who was ⁠a ‌passenger on the same flight as ⁠a ‌patient who died in Johannesburg after travelling on ⁠the MV Hondius ⁠cruise ship and contracting the virus, ‌Secretary ⁠of State for Health Javier Padilla said.

The woman has been taken ‌to a hospital in Alicante, where she remains in isolation, ⁠he added. Her symptoms included coughing ‌and "general malaise".

Mr Padilla said the Spanish woman was ⁠sitting ‌two rows behind the cruise ship passenger, but the contact between them "was brief" since the passenger ⁠had only been "on board for a short time" during ⁠the flight.

He added that health authorities in the Valencia region were tracing the people the woman has been in contact with over the past few days

-snip-

Britain's health ⁠security agency said that an additional suspected case of hantavirus had been identified in a British ‌national ⁠on the South Atlantic island of Tristan de Cunha.

Two British nationals have been confirmed ‌as cases of hantavirus, as ⁠part ‌of its monitoring of the ⁠deadly ‌outbreak on the cruise ship, the ⁠UK Health Security Agency ⁠said.
​
​continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/0508/1572287-hantavirus-cruise-ship/

 

[Commonground]

Hantavirus scare widens: New suspected case linked to doomed MV Hondius cruise
Updated: May 8, 2026 04:53 PM IST

Excerpt:

A new suspected case of hantavirus has been identified in a British national on the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, as authorities continue tracing passengers and contacts linked to the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius.

According to British health authorities, the individual was linked to the island stop made by the vessel on April 15. Officials did not disclose further details about the patient or condition.
​

https://indianexpress.com/article/w...-ship-tristan-da-cunha-cases-deaths-10679362/

 

[sharon sanders]

I have not seen anything on the Spain Health site however El Pais is fairly reliable....

UPDATED:May 08, 2026 - 10:15 EDT
​

The Secretary of State for Health, Javier Padilla, has reported a suspected case of hantavirus in Alicante. The suspect is a passenger who was on the same plane as the patient who died in Johannesburg after contracting the virus on the MV Hondius cruise ship . In addition, another person who traveled on the same flight spent a week in Barcelona and returned to their home country of South Africa. It is unknown whether they have reported any symptoms. Padilla also confirmed that none of the 14 Spanish passengers on the cruise ship have objected to undergoing voluntary quarantine to minimize the risk of spreading the outbreak that has claimed the lives of three passengers. According to Padilla, the Ministry team will travel to Tenerife tomorrow, where the cruise ship is expected to dock this Sunday. The passengers will disembark by boat, and the Spanish citizens will be transferred to Madrid on a military plane. Spain is coordinating with 22 countries the repatriation of the remaining passengers, more than one hundred in total. At the moment, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are five confirmed cases of infection and three suspected cases.

https://elpais.com/sociedad/2026-05-08/ultima-hora-del-brote-de-hantavirus-en-directo.html




​

 

[Pathfinder]

Switzerland

Translation Google

Geneva: Person in isolation after contact with a case of hantavirus

08.05.2026 13:20

A person from Geneva is currently under observation after traveling on the same plane as someone infected with hantavirus. They are asymptomatic and self-isolating at home, the Federal Office of Public Health told Keystone-ATS.

According to information released Friday by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), this person was on a flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg, which also carried a seriously ill passenger. They were not on board the cruise ship. Geneva cantonal authorities are in close contact with this individual and are monitoring their health.

The Swiss patient who contracted hantavirus aboard the Hondius ship remains hospitalized at Zurich University Hospital. His wife is in isolation at home.

According to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), there is no danger to the passengers who were on the plane with the infected Swiss man. Indeed, the patient only developed a fever three days after his arrival.

The FOPH continues to believe that the risk to the population is low.

https://latele.ch/articles/une-personne-de-geneve-surveillee-apres-un-contact-hantavirus​

 

[Pathfinder]

Spain MoH

Translation Google​
The protocol for handling people disembarked from the ship MV HONDIUS has been approved.

• The protocol has been approved at an extraordinary meeting of the Public Health Commission.
• It establishes quarantine measures and active surveillance for people disembarked and under monitoring in Spain.
• The planned actions are based on the precautionary principle and will be reviewed continuously.

​

Madrid, May 8, 2026 - The Public Health Commission, which includes all the autonomous communities and the Ministry of Health, has approved the protocol for handling people disembarked from the ship MV HONDIUS, affected by an outbreak of Andes hantavirus (ANDV), with the aim of strengthening the protection of public health and ensuring a coordinated response throughout the national territory.

The protocol, previously agreed upon by the Technical Committee of the Early Warning and Rapid Response System (SIAPR), defines the criteria for action to monitor people who have been on the ship between April 1 and May 10, 2026, as well as for possible close contacts of confirmed cases.

The document establishes the definitions of contact, probable case and confirmed case of Andes virus disease, and is based on the criteria of the World Health Organization.

Quarantine measures and active monitoring

All people considered contacts — those who remained on the ship between April 1 and May 10 or who were in contact with a confirmed case — must undergo mandatory quarantine at the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital in Madrid.

Passengers will remain in single rooms and will not be allowed visitors. During this period, they will undergo a PCR test upon arrival and another seven days later. In addition, active monitoring will be carried out, including twice-daily temperature checks to detect any compatible symptoms early.

Management of probable and confirmed cases

The protocol defines a probable case as any contact who develops symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches, or vomiting. In this situation, the patient will be immediately transferred to a negative pressure isolation room.

If a laboratory test is positive by the National Microbiology Center, the patient will become a confirmed case and will be admitted to a High Level Isolation and Treatment Unit (UATAN) until clinical recovery.

The document also incorporates detailed biosafety measures for healthcare, laboratory and cleaning personnel, including the use of personal protective equipment, protocols for handling and transporting biological samples and cleaning and disinfection procedures adapted to the level of biological risk associated with the Andes virus.

The Ministry of Health emphasizes that all actions outlined in the protocol are guided by the precautionary principle and may be continuously updated based on the evolution of the outbreak and the scientific knowledge available nationally and internationally. Furthermore, the emotional well-being of those in quarantine will be ensured by maintaining electronic communication with their families and loved ones.

https://www.sanidad.gob.es/en/gabinete/notasPrensa.do?id=6903

​

 

[Pathfinder]

​

• 7 May 2026

Update on the hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius – 7 May 2026

The St Helena Government (SHG) is providing the following daily update regarding the ongoing response to the hantavirus incident linked to the vessel MV Hondius. To ensure the public remains informed, updates will now be issued daily on weekdays.

The Health and Social Care Portfolio continues to conduct thorough contact tracing assessments. We are pleased to report a significant reduction in the number of individuals initially assessed as “low risk” as further data is processed.

Clarification on Power Outages

SHG recognises that a separate incident is currently ongoing involving recent power outages. We would like to clarify that these outages are being addressed by Connect Saint Helena and has no impact on the hantavirus response. Hospital services, cold-chain storage for medical supplies, and public health monitoring systems are functioning normally and remain unaffected by these local power issues.

Reminder of Public Guidance

The risk to the general community remains low. Contact tracing for the recent Airlink flight remains the responsibility of South African authorities. All residents of St Helena who were on this flight, and have subsequently returned, have been identified and given the appropriate advice, guidance and support.

The Hantavirus Screening Line (25949) is available for anyone who had direct contact with the vessel or its passengers to report any symptoms.

Please call the line for guidance before visiting the hospital.

For further information and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit our dedicated Q&A page: www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/Hantavirus-QA-07.05.26.pdf.

#StHelena #PublicHealth #MVHondius [HASHTAG="c747242"]WHO[/HASHTAG] #ConnectSaintHelena

www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt​

https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/update-on-the-hantavirus-linked-to-the-mv-hondius-7-may-2026/

 

[Pathfinder]

(See post #26 for a previous update.)

​
Public Notices Regarding the MV Hondius Hantavirus, 6th May 2026

Tristan da Cunha

PUBLIC NOTICES


The following three public notices updating the implications for Tristan of the current outbreak of hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius were issued on the 6th May 2026:

1. Hantavirus Update


We are continuing to respond to the hantavirus incident. Tests performed by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa have indicated that the Andes virus is the underlying cause.

This is the only known variant capable of human-to-human spread. The risk to the wider population remains low and transmission requires prolonged close personal contact.

This does not affect our response, which has been based on this assumption from the outset.

As we have indicated previously, we are acting from an abundance of caution and will continue to do so. Please continue to follow the advice.

A more detailed update will be issued later today and then daily thereafter.

Thank you all for your continued support and co-operation.

Philip Kendall

Administrator, 6th May 2026

2. Message from the UK Minister for Overseas Territories


The Chief Islander has received the following message from Stephen Doughty, the UK Minister for the Overseas Territories, and has asked me to pass it on:

Chief Islander,​

I wanted to reach out personally and say I am very sorry to hear that Tristan has been affected by the health situation concerning the MV Hondius cruise ship.​

My thoughts are with the islander currently in hospital and their spouse who is isolating. I also understand you have four islanders currently on St Helena that travelled on the ship.​

I know how concerned you must all be. I understand from the Administrator that your Chief Medical Officer, Dr Alex, and team are doing outstanding work. I also know that your community will be being typically strong for each other at this challenging time. But to reassure, I am personally tracking events and will make sure you continue to get urgent advice and appropriate support as a priority.​

Please know that you can contact me at any time - and please do say if you would like to discuss via phone, which my team can set up. The UK is always here for Tristan.​

Stephen Doughty, Minister for the Overseas Territories​

Philip Kendall

Administrator, 6th May 2026 3.

A Statement from the Governor


Dear Friends,

I am sure that we are all by now aware of the challenge we face following confirmation today by the South African authorities of the presence of the Andes variant of the Hantavirus aboard the vessel MV Hondius. We are now responding to a crisis none of us would have wished.

The resilience of our communities has been tested before and I am proud once again of the calm, measured and proportionate response we are seeing across the Territory in difficult times. Those responding directly warrant especial thanks.

I know that information is key in these moments both to share what is known and to reassure. The three governments in the Territory have already issued detailed and coordinated Public Health information. They will continue to do so. I would reiterate that from the outset all have acted with an abundance of caution.

I am acutely aware that the vessel and its passengers is currently the subject of global news interest. Among our communities, there is intense social media activity. This is understandable. Yet we must also be cautious of potential fallibility, as the recent global misreporting of the death of Jonathan the tortoise so clearly revealed.

The Public Health information we have issued is the best available, drawing not only on the experience of our talented local experts, but also that of the UK Health Security Agency.

I am confident that we will confront this challenge together. To help achieve that, the governments will keep the public informed with a regular rhythm of information. Every effort will be made to ensure it is your trusted source.

I am grateful for your fortitude and continued support.

Nigel Phillips

Governor, 6th May 2026

Public Notice Downloads

• Hantavirus Update, 6th May 2026
• Message from the UK Minister for Overseas Territories, 6th May 2026
• A Statement from the Governor, 6th May 2026

​

https://www.tristandc.com/government/news-2026-05-06-hantavirus-update.php
​

 

[Pathfinder]

Press update | m/v Hondius: 8 May 2026, 19:00 hrs CET


by Oceanwide Expeditions News 08.05.2026

8 May 2026, 19:00 hrs CET

Oceanwide Expeditions continues to respond to an ongoing medical situation aboard m/v Hondius.

The three individuals transferred by medicalized aircraft from m/v Hondius to the Netherlands on 6 May remain under the care and screening of medical professionals. No symptomatic individuals are present on board. The situation on board m/v Hondius remains calm, and guests and crew continue to follow procedures, now under the guidance of the medical team. More information is available via the WHO and other responsible authorities.

Following the directive of relevant authorities, provisionally, m/v Hondius is estimated to arrive at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife, in the early hours of Sunday 10 May. This is subject to change. Preparations regarding our point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and the onward travel plans for all guests and affected crew are being led by organizations from a number of countries, including the WHO, RIVM, and Dutch authorities, in close cooperation with Spanish government authorities.

Following the disembarkation or evacuation of guests aboard m/v Hondius, Oceanwide Expeditions is not involved in planning and facilitating medical testing, screening, and onward journeys.

Oceanwide Expeditions would like to provide more details on the itinerary involved, and the disembarkation of guests on Saint Helena on 24 April.

The involved itinerary of m/v Hondius is the Atlantic Odyssey voyage, which departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April, and was scheduled to end in Praia, Cape Verde, on 4 May. This can be booked in different ways. Guests can choose to travel with the vessel from Ushuaia, and disembark in Saint Helena. Alternatively, they can remain with the vessel and continue to Cape Verde.

(screenshot)



(*) Disembarkation on 24 April of 32 guests, adjusted from 30 we communicated earlier, and including the Dutch national who passed away on 11 April, and the Dutch national who accompanied the body and later passed away during their transit home on 26 April.

(**) 1 symptomatic British national, 1 asymptomatic American national (partner of patient).

(***) On 2 May, a guest passed away on board. This individual is not included in the final current onboard numbers.

(****) On 6 May, three individuals (1 Dutch and 1 German passenger, 1 British crew) were transferred by medicalized aircraft from m/v Hondius to the Netherlands. Two listed as guests and one listed as crew. On the same day, four medical staff (marked as guests, 1 Italian, 3 Dutch) embarked the vessel.

Image: Atlantic Odyssey itinerary map



GUEST NATIONALITIES CURRENTLY ON BOARD



* Does not include the individual who passed away on 2 May.

The above guest number includes four medical staff.

Close cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

All media inquiries should be directed to: Mrs. Kiki Hirschfeldt: kiki@coebergh.nl

For all other matters, we refer to our previous press updates. The unchanged list of previous official communications is as follows:
...

https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/press/press-update-m-v-hondius-8-may-2026-19-00-hrs-cet

 

[Commonground]

2 NJ residents being monitored after potential exposure to hantavirus connected to cruise ship
May 8, 2026 1:05PM​


NEW JERSEY (WPVI) -- Two New Jersey residents are being monitored after they were potentially exposed to a person infected with hantavirus.

The New Jersey Department of Health said Friday it was notified of the development by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the state health department, an infected person had departed from the cruise ship MV Hondius, and the potential exposure to the New Jersey residents happened during air travel abroad.

The health department went on to say that neither individual is currently reported to have symptoms suggestive of hantavirus.
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The New Jersey residents were not passengers on the cruise ship.

... https://6abc.com/post/2-new-jersey-...us-connected-cruise-ship-mv-hondius/19064581/

 

[Commonground]

Argentine authorities say hantavirus patients not likely infected in Tierra del Fuego province
By Reuters​
​May 8, 20261:44 PM EDTUpdated 54 mins ago

USHUAIA, Argentina, May 8 (Reuters) - Patients ​on a luxury cruise ‌ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak could not ​have been infected in ​Argentina's southernmost Tierra del Fuego ⁠province, said Juan ​Petrina, director of epidemiology and ​environmental health for the province, during a press conference on ​Friday.​

Petrina said the conclusion ​was based on the time frame ‌between ⁠the patients' time in the province and the onset of symptoms.​
"The calculations ​don't ​add up ⁠for them to have been infected ​in our province ... ​the ⁠possibility is practically nil," Petrina said.​

https://www.reuters.com/business/he...s-not-likely-infected-tierra-del-2026-05-08/​

 

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Post #95

• The Secretary of State for Health, Javier Padilla, has reported a suspected case of hantavirus in Alicante. The suspect is a passenger who was on the same plane as the patient who died in Johannesburg after contracting the virus on the MV Hondius cruise ship . In addition, another person who traveled on the same flight spent a week in Barcelona and returned to their home country of South Africa.

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MADRID, May 8 (Reuters) - A 32-year-old woman in the southeastern Spanish ​province of Alicante has symptoms consistent with ‌a hantavirus infection and is being tested, Spanish health officials said on Friday.​

...https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/spain-says-it-has-detected-suspected-hantavirus-case-alicante-2026-05-08/#:~:text=MADRID%2C%20May%208%20(Reuters),health%20 officials%20said%20on%20Friday.

Also

Posted May 8, 2026 3:39 pm
​Excerpt:

A Spanish woman who was on the same flight as a passenger who died of hantavirus is currently being treated at a hospital for a suspected infection, local officials said Friday.

The Spanish Health Ministry said in a Friday briefing that a 32-year-old woman was being treated in the city of Alicante.

https://globalnews.ca/news/11840706/new-suspected-hantavirus-cases-experts-working-on-guidance/
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[Pathfinder]

Hantavirus – Statement from the Virginia Department of Health

Posted on May 7, 2026
Last Updated: May 8, 2026

As of May 7, 2026, please see the Virginia Department of Health’s statement:

The Virginia Department of Health is monitoring this situation closely and has been in active communication with our federal partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
To date, one Virginia traveler who was on the MV Hondius disembarked the ship and has returned home. This person is currently in good health and is under public health monitoring. To protect the privacy of this person, no further details will be shared about this individual.

Our understanding is that fewer than 30 U.S. Citizens were on board the ship. A small number (<5) of other potentially exposed Virginians might be identified in the days ahead.

We will maintain communication with travelers, local health departments, and federal partners, and will continue to implement recommended public health actions. Generally speaking, we believe the risk to the general public to be low.

Learn more: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/hantavirus/
...

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/blog/2...ement-from-the-virginia-department-of-health/

 

[Pathfinder]

Argentina -
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Translation Google

Release

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The Ministry of Health of Tierra del Fuego reports that it continues to monitor the situation related to the hantavirus cases reported by the WHO on a cruise ship that spent the season in Ushuaia.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON HANTAVIROSIS

Hantavirus diseases are emerging zoonoses caused by viruses of the genus Orthohantavirus . These are transmitted to humans through inhalation of aerosolized secretions from certain rodent species. In the Americas, the typical clinical presentation is called hantavirus (cardio)pulmonary syndrome (HPS), an acute febrile syndrome with malaise, frequently associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, followed by a sudden onset of respiratory distress and hypotension. In other parts of the world, the presentations may vary.

Human cases are most frequently reported in rural settings, such as forests, fields, and farms, where rodents are present and exposure opportunities are greater. HPS is characterized by headache, dizziness, chills, fever, myalgia, and gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, followed by sudden respiratory distress and hypotension.

Although infrequent, limited cases of human-to-human transmission of HPS due to the Andes virus have been reported in community settings involving close and prolonged contact.

The incubation period ranges from 4 to 45 days, but is generally 2 to 3 weeks. The period of infectivity or transmissibility is considered to be from 2 days before the onset of fever until 5 days after the onset of fever.
In our country, and especially in the Andean-Patagonian region, the main reservoir of the Hanta virus is rodents of the subfamily Sigmodontinae , with particular emphasis on the long-tailed pygmy rice rat ( Oligoryzomys longicaudatus ). A subspecies ( O. longicaudatus magallanicus ) has been described on Tierra del Fuego, though its existence is still debated among scientists. Its true potential as a natural reservoir of this virus remains unknown.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION

Regarding the epidemiological situation in the province and the region, the National Directorate of Epidemiology highlighted that “Tierra del Fuego has no presence of hantavirus and has not registered any cases since this disease was added to the list of notifiable events in our country in 1996, and its neighboring province, Santa Cruz, has not registered any cases for 7 years.” They added that “Currently, the Southern region is in a safe zone, with only 10 cases reported in Neuquén, Río Negro, and Chubut during the 2025-2026 season.”

SITUATION RELATED TO THE VESSEL MV HONDIUS

The vessel, which had departed from Montevideo, entered the port of Ushuaia on November 16, 2025. From there, it made several coastal voyages between Ushuaia, the Antarctic sector, and islands in the South Atlantic. On April 1, 2026, it set sail for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Saint Helena, and other points in the South Atlantic.

On May 2, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of a cluster of passengers with severe respiratory illness aboard a cruise ship. As of May 4, 2026, seven cases had been identified (two laboratory-confirmed hantavirus cases and five suspected cases), including three deaths, one patient in critical condition, and three people with mild symptoms. The onset of symptoms in the first cases occurred between April 6 and 28, 2026. The outbreak is being managed through an international response.

The WHO also clarified that, "the degree of contact of passengers with local wildlife during the trip or before boarding in Ushuaia is unknown."

The international organization currently considers the risk posed by this event to the world population to be low and will continue to monitor the epidemiological situation and update the risk assessment.

The Ministry of Health of Tierra del Fuego, through its Epidemiology Directorate, continues to monitor the situation in order to have updated official information available to national health authorities to contribute to the epidemiological investigation and any necessary measures to be taken.


https://salud.tierradelfuego.gob.ar/comunicado-2/

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