Hantavirus Cruise Outbreak: 2 Indians Moved to Netherlands, 3 Foreigners Test Positive

A developing health emergency aboard the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius has triggered a large-scale international evacuation after multiple passengers tested positive or showed symptoms of hantavirus , prompting coordinated action by global health authorities.

The vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions , had departed from Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1 before reaching the Canary Islands, Spain , after infection cases were reported onboard. The ship was carrying around 150 passengers and crew from several countries.

Among those affected were two Indian nationals , both crew members on board. According to the Embassy of India in Spain , they were safely evacuated to the Netherlands and are currently asymptomatic under quarantine protocols . Indian diplomatic officials remain in contact with Spanish authorities to ensure their well being.

In a rapidly coordinated response, passengers from multiple countries were evacuated and flown home under strict medical supervision. Personnel in full protective gear escorted travellers from the ship to shore, followed by further repatriation using military and government aircraft .

The situation escalated further after reports confirmed that three passengers, including a French woman and two Americans , tested positive or developed symptoms after evacuation. The French patient’s condition reportedly worsened after reaching Paris, while one American passenger in Nebraska tested positive but remains asymptomatic and is under observation at a specialised biocontainment facility .

Health authorities in the United States have placed evacuees under strict monitoring, while several European nations have also implemented quarantine and surveillance measures . The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised active health monitoring of all passengers, while stressing that the overall risk to the public remains low .

Hantavirus is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings and is not easily spread between humans. However, experts say rare strains may allow limited human transmission. Symptoms can appear between one to eight weeks after exposure, making continuous monitoring essential.

So far, three deaths have been reported since the outbreak began, while earlier cases linked to passengers who disembarked have also been confirmed.