RismadarVoice Reporters, May 12, 2026
Health authorities have confirmed that hantavirus cases linked to an outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius have risen to 11, prompting international quarantine measures as passengers are monitored across multiple countries.
The vessel, which departed Argentina on a nature expedition carrying nearly 150 passengers, has now been linked to a growing cluster of infections, including confirmed cases in the United States and Europe. Officials say the number could still increase due to the virus’s long incubation period.
Passengers who disembarked from the ship in Tenerife, Spain, have since been repatriated to their home countries, where they are undergoing medical observation and quarantine protocols.
In the United States, several returning passengers are being monitored at designated medical facilities, including the University of Nebraska Medical Centre and Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Health authorities have confirmed that some individuals are being held in high-level isolation units as a precaution.
One of the quarantined passengers, Jake Rosmarin, who is currently in Nebraska, said he is relieved to be under medical supervision despite initial fears after learning of the outbreak.
“I’m happy to be in a place where we are well cared for,” he said, adding that he has not tested positive and is not showing symptoms.
According to health officials, two additional cases are being treated in Europe, while global monitoring continues as more potential infections are assessed.
The outbreak has already resulted in three confirmed deaths including a Dutch couple and a German national raising concern among international health agencies.
The MV Hondius, which was on a sightseeing voyage through remote regions, became the focus of global attention after early cases were detected during the trip. Passengers were later screened upon arrival in Spain before being distributed to their home countries for further observation.
Health authorities in the United States and Europe have emphasised that the risk to the general public remains low, noting that hantavirus does not spread easily between humans and typically requires prolonged close contact with an infected person.
The World Health Organisation and national health agencies are currently investigating the source of the outbreak, with attention focused on a possible exposure event during a wildlife excursion in southern Argentina.
Officials say all exposed passengers will continue to be monitored for up to 42 days, the known incubation period for the virus, as efforts continue to prevent further spread.
Despite the rising case count, health experts maintain that containment measures are working as intended and that there is no immediate threat to the wider public.
