The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the number of Hantavirus cases linked to a recent cruise ship outbreak has risen to 13, following a new case reported in Spain. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the update on Wednesday via a post on social media platform X.
Details of the Outbreak
According to Tedros, the new case was identified among passengers currently in quarantine, bringing the total count to 13. Among these cases, three fatalities have been recorded, but no new deaths have occurred since May 2. “The situation remains stable,” Tedros stated. “Passengers who became ill are receiving necessary medical care, while others continue to be quarantined.”
Disembarkation and Quarantine
In the past two weeks, all remaining passengers, crew members, and medical staff have disembarked from the MV Hondius, the luxury cruise liner at the center of the outbreak. The ship had been docked at the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands since May 18, 2026.
Understanding Hantavirus
Hantaviruses are viruses primarily transmitted by rodents, which can infect humans and cause various illnesses. The WHO estimates that globally, there are between 10,000 and 100,000 human cases of Hantavirus each year, with the severity of the disease varying depending on the viral strain.
