Source: European Union 2 Published on: 2026-05-24
This page is updated once daily, including on weekends. This is a rapidly evolving situation and all data reflect the situation as of 14:00 on the date of publication. On 2 May 2026, ECDC was notified of a cluster of severe respiratory illness on MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship with passengers and crew from 23 countries, including nine EU/EEA countries.
The virus has been identified as Andes hantavirus. As of 24 May, 12 cases have been reported in total, including 10 confirmed and 2 probable cases. One new case and no new deaths have been reported since the previous update.
The cruise ship M/V Hondius is currently docked in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, undergoing sanitation.
The identification of additional cases after former passengers and crew have returned to their home country is expected given the long incubation period of Andes hantavirus and the possibility that some infections occurred on board on the ship.
The risk to the EU/EEA general population remains very low.
Questions and answers on the hantavirus outbreak in a cruise ship ECDC Press Conference – 13 May – Andes hantavirus outbreak Outbreak of Andes virus 2026 – Infection, prevention and control measures for patients in healthcare settings Outbreak of Andes virus 2026 – Recommendations for self-quarantine Andes hantavirus outbreak: ECDC continues working on the frontline to support EU Member States ECDC publishes guidance for the management of passengers linked to the Andes hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship Cruise ship hantavirus outbreak: ECDC response activated Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship under investigation: risk for Europe very low Rapid scientific advice on infection, prevention and control measures for patients in healthcare settings with Andes virus (ANDV) disease Rapid scientific advice on laboratory testing of Andes virus (ANDV) for high-risk contacts under the MV Hondius outbreak Rapid scientific advice on the management of passengers – In the context of the Andes virus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius Threat assessment brief: Hantavirus-associated cluster of illness on a cruise ship: ECDC assessment and recommendations *A suspected case is a person who has been on or visited the same transport (e.g. ship or plane) where a confirmed or probable Andes hantavirus (ANDV) case was present, OR has been in contact with a passenger or crew member of the MV Hondius since 5 April, AND has a fever (currently or recently), plus at least one of the following symptoms: • stomach problems (such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or abdominal pain) • breathing problems (such as cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or difficulty breathing) **A probable case is a person who has the symptoms listed above, and is known to have been in contact with a confirmed or probable ANDV case ***A confirmed case is a person who meets the suspected or probable case definition, and has a laboratory test that confirms ANDV infection (PCR or antibody test) Non-case: A non-case is a person who was initially considered a suspected or probable case, but tests negative for ANDV using laboratory tests (PCR or antibody test).