On May 2, the World Health Organization received notice of two deaths and one case of severe respiratory illness among passengers on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship, MV Hondius, operated by expedition line Oceanwide Expeditions. Now eight cases of illness have been reported among passengers and crew of the vessel, and three passengers have died.
Of the cases, three have been confirmed as the Andes strain of hantavirus.
Hantaviruses are viruses typically spread through contact with infected rodents (urine, feces or saliva). Person-to-person transmission is extremely rare. Only the Andes strain, which is found in South America, is able to pass between humans.
The transmission among MV Hondius passengers and crew is alarming, and many people are concerned that hantavirus will be the next “cruise ship disease.” Cruise ships have long been blamed for spreading orovirus, COVID-19, and even Legionnaires’ disease.
For now, experts say not to worry. Your clients should not be canceling trips or buying masks. Here’s what you need to know about hantavirus and how cruisers can protect themselves.
Hantavirus Transmission is Rare
Hantavirus “requires very close consistent contact and is not easy to transmit person to person,” Dr. Wendy Armstrong, president-elect of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said in an email interview with Luxury Travel Advisor.
It is likely that the close quarters and shared public spaces of the cruise ship played a role in transmission, especially as MV Hondius was sailing a lengthy itinerary from southern Argentina to remote islands across the Atlantic, with much time spent on board.
That said, the first two people to succumb to the virus were a married couple who would ordinarily spend time together in close quarters.
Just because people are transmitting the hantavirus on this particular sailing does not mean that hantavirus is going to become a pandemic or the next cruise ship virus to worry travelers.
“The risk remains exceedingly low, and this should not be thought of as similar to norovirus or COVID or influenza (or measles) where many more close contacts become infected with a single exposure,” said Armstrong.
The WHO reports that human hantavirus infections are uncommon. In 2025, only 229 cases and 59 deaths were reported across the Americas (China and Korea do see more cases annually.). The organization assesses the current risk level from this particular outbreak to be low.
“I would encourage the public to not be concerned about this event at this time,” Armstrong said.
Cruise Ships Aren’t the Cause
Naysayers like to blame cruise ships for being dirty and cesspools of illnesses, but that’s far from the truth.
“There is no evidence that there were mice/rats on this ship making an asymptomatic passenger the most likely source,” said Armstrong.
The current theory is that a bird-watching excursion in southern Argentina might be the culprit.
While the close quarters of a long cruise with many days at sea likely contributed to the spread beyond the initial couple, it does not mean ships are unhealthy and should be avoided. Illnesses spread rapidly in any situation where people spend time in close quarters, such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.
Weekslong cruises that carry older guests, who might have weakened immune systems, have more potential for illness to spread than shorter cruises where you spend many days off the ship and return home before a virus can infect many people. The cruise industry is aware of the potential for virus transmission and adheres to strict cleaning and disinfection protocols on board. When norovirus or another illness is detected, crew escalate to an even more rigorous disinfection routine (no self serve at the buffet, more frequent cleanings of key public areas, etc.).
Clients concerned about hantavirus should know that handwashing is not effective against it. Armstrong said it doesn’t make sense to mask because the risk is so small.
MV Hondius is on its way to the Canary Islands where it plans to disembark and screen guests and quarantine anyone with symptoms. The hope is that the virus can be contained.
Clients planning adventures in remote parts of South America should educate themselves about the risks of hantavirus, though the risk remains low. But cruise travelers on standard one- and two-week trips to the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe should not be concerned about hantavirus. They should instead focus on proper hygiene and isolating when sick to avoid contracting or passing more common viruses – whether on a cruise ship, a resort vacation or at home.
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