The virus, transmitted mainly by rodents, can cause severe respiratory symptoms and has a high mortality rate. The outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which left Ushuaia bound for Cape Verde, left at least three dead and several cases under study, while health authorities investigate how the contagion occurred on board.

First modification: 05/04/2026 - 20:49 Last modification: 05/05/2026 - 12:26

A hantavirus outbreak on board the MV Hondius cruise ship, which covered the route between Ushuaia (Argentina) and Cape Verde, has so far left three people dead and at least six suspected cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health authorities.

Hantavirus is endemic in some regions of southern Argentina and Chile, where isolated cases are recorded each year.

Although the initial symptoms are often confused with a common flu, this pathogen is closely followed by health authorities due to its rapid evolution and high lethality (around 40%).

What is hantavirus and how does it spread?

Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to humans) caused by various species of viruses of the genus Orthohantavirus. In America, it is known to cause Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS).

According to the Argentine Ministry of Health, the virus resides mainly in wild rodents - such as the long-tailed mouse - which eliminate it through saliva, urine and feces.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out that the most common route of infection is inhalation of viral particles in closed spaces, which occurs when breathing air contaminated by viral particles released from excrement or nests, especially in closed or poorly ventilated spaces.

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Infection can also occur through direct contact, by touching contaminated surfaces or infected rodents and then touching your nose or mouth.

Although it is not common, the WHO warns that the Andes strain—present in southern Argentina and Chile—has demonstrated the capacity to transmit contagion between people in situations of close contact, although it is still considered an exceptional phenomenon.

Read alsoAt least three dead due to possible hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde

Symptoms and critical complication

The danger of hantavirus is mainly in its initial phase. Its symptoms are very similar to those of the flu: high fever, muscle pain (especially in the back and thighs), headache, nausea and vomiting.

However, after a few days, the disease can suddenly progress to severe respiratory distress and heart failure.

According to the CDC, the mortality rate from hantavirus can reach between 30% and 40%, even with treatment.

Currently there is no vaccine or specific antiviral, so clinical management is based on early intensive support, especially respiratory.

The incubation period is usually between one and three weeks, although in exceptional cases it can be extended for longer after exposure to the virus.

Given that the incubation period is usually one to three weeks, health authorities are considering two main hypotheses:

The case of the MV Hondius: Uncertainty in the Atlantic

The outbreak has put the spotlight on biosafety protocols on expedition vessels. The ship set sail from Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, bound for Cape Verde when the first cases were reported.

Faced with this situation, the cruise ship is currently heading towards the Canary Islands (Spain), where disembarkation is being evaluated under strict quarantine protocols.

"The option of sailing to Las Palmas or Tenerife as a disembarkation point is being considered, where new medical examinations and case management could be carried out," said the operator Oceanwide Expeditions, owner of the cruise, in an official statement.

The Dutch company said it is working closely with the World Health Organization and the health authorities of the Netherlands and Spain to contain the situation.

Read alsoCanary Islands, possible destination for disembarkation of the cruise ship with hantavirus

Caution and tranquility

Despite the severity of the outbreak, the WHO seeks to avoid widespread alarm.

The director of the health organization for the European continent, Hans Kluge, shared a reassuring message regarding the global reach of the virus.

"The risk for the entire population remains low. There is no reason to panic or impose travel restrictions," he noted.

Kluge stressed that hantavirus infections are rare and stressed that, in general terms, the pathogen "is not easily transmitted between people."

In this way, the WHO seeks to reinforce the idea that the incident on the MV Hondius is a focused situation, linked to specific conditions of the environment and the region of origin. According to the agency, today it does not represent a pandemic threat that justifies travel restrictions, as long as early detection protocols are maintained.

In this context, specialists point out that the main prevention measure continues to be to avoid contact with rodents and ensure adequate ventilation in closed spaces, especially in areas where the virus is endemic.

With EFE, AFP and local media

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