2026 MV Hondius Cruise Hantavirus Outbreak: No Confirmed U.S. Cases as 40+ Monitored

The May 2026 MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak involved the Andes variant of hantavirus (ANDV), with nine confirmed cases across multiple countries but no confirmed U.S. cases. A Dutch couple contracted the virus before boarding the expedition vessel; the virus subsequently spread to passengers and crew from multiple nations. Dr. Stephen Kornfeld of Oregon initially tested positive but subsequently tested negative twice and remained asymptomatic. Approximately 17 U.S. citizens and over 40 additional contacts were evacuated and isolated at the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha. Health authorities in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay investigated potential exposure sites in Patagonia. U.S. officials downplayed transmission risk, noting hantavirus is not readily human-to-human transmissible. WHO Director Tedros Ghebreyesus stated no evidence of a larger outbreak but cautioned the situation could change. By mid-May 2026, the outbreak remained contained with active surveillance ongoing.