Holidays on cruise ships is becoming very popular these days. People in India have now started this new trend. One of the hidden dangers of travelling with a group of people on a ship is serious infections breaking out during the voyage. You will be confined to the ship and often may not be allowed to get off the ship as the ship would be quarantined at port or in mid sea as it happened during “the Pandemic”.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has briefed the media on a concerning cluster of hantavirus infections linked to the expedition cruise vessel MV Hondius. The Dutch‑flagged ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April 2026 for a 24‑day “Atlantic Odyssey” voyage, travelling through Antarctica and several remote South Atlantic islands before heading toward the Canary Islands.
Eight cases of hantavirus infection have now been confirmed, including three fatalities, prompting heightened international vigilance.
The outbreak involves the Andes virus, a rare but serious hantavirus carried by certain rodent species. Unlike other hantaviruses, the Andes virus is the only known strain capable of limited person‑to‑person transmission, typically through close and prolonged contact. Most infections occur when individuals inhale air contaminated with particles from infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Transmission can also occur through direct contact with contaminated materials or, less commonly, through rodent bites. The virus can cause severe and often life‑threatening illness in humans.
Given the ship’s multinational itinerary and passenger list, WHO is coordinating closely with affected countries and public‑health authorities to support investigation, contact tracing, and risk assessment.