US passenger tests positive for Andes virus; final evacuees from cruise ship MV Hondius land in Netherlands

The final evacuees from the cruise ship MV Hondius, which experienced an Andes virus outbreak, have been repatriated following a complex multinational operation. The vessel departed southern Argentina on April 1 for a transatlantic voyage; the first infection likely occurred before departure, followed by limited person-to-person transmission aboard. As of the report, seven confirmed cases and two suspected cases have been identified across citizens of six countries. Three deaths have occurred: a Dutch couple and a German national. One of 18 US passengers tested positive at a Nebraska facility. The WHO confirmed Andes virus—the only hantavirus capable of limited human-to-human transmission—as the causative agent and stated the public risk remains low, recommending 42-day quarantine protocols. The ship is proceeding to Rotterdam for disinfection.