A doctor discusses a deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship
Dr. Zaid Fadul, a doctor, discusses the deadly hantavirus outbreak on board, confirming that the Andes strain has a mortality rate of around 40%. He explains its transmission from person to person, which is different from other hantaviruses, and highlights the need for eight weeks of isolation due to the long latency period.
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A Swiss man who returned from a trip linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for HIV and been quarantined, as health officials say the strain involved can spread between people in rare cases – although the overall risk remains low.
Health authorities in Switzerland have confirmed that the man recently boarded the MV Hondius, a cruise ship at the center of an outbreak that has already killed three passengers and sickened several others.
Swiss health officials said the man sought medical attention after developing symptoms and was immediately placed in isolation. His wife, who was traveling with him, is isolating but has not shown any symptoms.
Officials confirmed that his case involved the Andes strain of hantavirus.
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The cruise ship MV Hondius Dutch docked in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Verde on May 5, 2026. (Arilson Almeida/AP)
The World Health Organization said the Andes strain is a rare type of hantavirus that can spread between people through close contact – unlike most hantaviruses, which are often linked to exposure to rodenticides.
South African health authorities said they had also identified the Andes strain in two other passengers on board.
Health workers disembark from the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius from Cape Verde on May 4, 2026, after three passengers died and several others became seriously ill from a suspected hantavirus outbreak. (Qasem Elhato/AP)
The outbreak has left a Dutch-owned ship stranded off the coast of Cape Verde, with around 150 passengers and crew on board as authorities seek to contain the situation.
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The Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Wednesday that the three suspects were removed from the ship and taken to the Netherlands for treatment.
“For now, the risk to public health remains low,” Tedros said.
Authorities stress that while the Andes strain can spread person-to-person, transmission remains rare and often requires close, long-term contact.
Health officials have launched efforts to monitor passengers on board and those who have already disembarked, linking multiple countries as the investigation continues.
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The ship left Argentina on April 1 and was scheduled to sail the Southern Atlantic, including a stop in Antarctica, before the outbreak interrupted its voyage.
Spain has agreed to receive the ship from the Canary Islands, although local officials have expressed concern about the possible danger to residents.
The Dutch MV Hondius cruise ship departs Cape Verde on May 4, 2026, after three passengers died and many others became seriously ill due to an outbreak of suspected hantavirus. (Qasem Elhato/AP)
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Hantavirus infection is rare but can be serious, with symptoms ranging from fever and fatigue to severe respiratory illness.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
