A Dutch couple who died from hantavirus after sailing on a cruise ship are believed to have contracted the illness while birdwatching in Argentina, according to Argentine officials. The two passengers, both aged 69, visited a landfill site near Ushuaia during a birdwatching trip and may have been exposed to rodents carrying the deadly infection before boarding the MV Hondius on April 1, 2026.
Timeline of the Outbreak
The husband developed flu-like symptoms five days after boarding and died on April 11. His body was taken ashore at Saint Helena on April 24, alongside his wife, who later fell ill and died in Johannesburg on April 26. The family expressed their grief, stating they cannot comprehend the loss and wish to bring them home in peace.
Contact Tracing and Further Cases
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has initiated contact tracing for passengers on the woman’s flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg, which carried 82 passengers and six crew. Argentine authorities noted that Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego province had never recorded a hantavirus case before. A German national also died on the ship on May 2, though it is unclear if they were infected.
Five people are confirmed to have caught the virus, with three more suspected cases. A British national is in intensive care in South Africa after being evacuated. Swiss authorities confirmed a case in a passenger from the first leg of the trip, who sought treatment in Zurich after receiving an email about the outbreak. Three individuals, including the British ship doctor, were medically evacuated on Wednesday; two are in serious condition with confirmed virus, while a third is asymptomatic but was a close contact of the German national.
Understanding Hantavirus
Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses spread through contact with infected droppings, saliva, urine, or nesting materials. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare, but the WHO believes it occurred on the MV Hondius. The incubation period ranges from two days to eight weeks. Early symptoms include headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal issues. Severe cases can lead to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome or Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, which can be fatal. There is no cure.
Risk Assessment and Ship Movement
WHO states the outbreak poses a low risk to public health. Professor Sir Andrew Pollard of the University of Oxford said the risk of spread is essentially zero, as the Andes virus variant rarely transmits between people. The ship received permission to dock in the Canary Islands after the evacuation. Around 150 guests and crew, including 23 British nationals, remained on board.
