90-Second Read: Spain confirms 2nd Hantavirus case after cruise ship evacuation

Spain confirms a second Hantavirus infection among MV Hondius evacuees as WHO reports 12 cases linked to the cruise ship outbreak. Spain has confirmed a second Hantavirus infection among passengers evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius, as health authorities across multiple countries continue to monitor hundreds of people exposed during the outbreak. The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, was carrying around 147 passengers and crew from 23 countries when a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses was first reported to the World Health Organization on 2 May 2026.

Spanish authorities allowed the ship to anchor off Tenerife on 10 May, after which passengers and crew were taken ashore and repatriated to their home countries. Laboratory testing confirmed that the strain responsible for the outbreak is Andes virus, a Hantavirus found in South America and the only known Hantavirus capable of spreading from person to person. The WHO reported a total of 12 confirmed or suspected cases linked to the outbreak as of late May 2026.

Cases have been confirmed in Spain, the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Switzerland, with former passengers and crew under observation or quarantine in more than a dozen countries including Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, and the United States. Germany reported two suspected cases, both of whom were isolated and later allowed to quarantine at home after showing no symptoms. Spain's Health Ministry said the new case does not change the risk level for the general public, and the patient has been transferred to a high-isolation unit.