90-Second Read: France says cruise ship Andes virus matches known South American viruses

France's Pasteur Institute has fully sequenced the Andes virus found in a French passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship. Pasteur said genomic analysis confirmed that the virus found in the French passenger matched the virus detected in other cases aboard the ship and closely resembled known Andes virus samples circulating in South America. Pasteur said the viruses detected in patients from the ship were identical to each other and about 97% similar to some Andes viruses circulating in South America, including those identified in rodents.

Ambulances carrying patients evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship with suspected Hantavirus infection, leave the Bourget airport, north of Paris, Sunday, May 10, 2026. This sequencing work allows us to better understand the virus and to ensure close health monitoring. Jean-Claude Manuguerra, who heads Pasteur's Environment and Infectious Risk unit, said the remaining variation appeared to reflect natural viral variation and did not seem to affect the characteristics of the virus detected among travelers.

The outbreak on the ship has reached 11 cases, nine of which have been confirmed. Three people on the cruise died, including a Dutch couple who health officials believe were the first exposed to the virus while visiting South America. The French passenger tested positive after traveling aboard the MV Hondius and has been treated in Paris.