Spanish cruise passenger tests positive for Andes hantavirus; second confirmed case among MV Hondius evacuees

A Spanish national quarantined at Gómez Ulla Military Hospital in Madrid has tested positive for Andes hantavirus (ANDV), becoming the second confirmed case among 14 Spanish nationals evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship. The luxury liner, carrying approximately 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries, reported a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses on May 2, 2026. The patient was already isolated as a precaution, so the positive result does not alter risk assessment for the broader population. This case is part of the larger 2026 ANDV outbreak linked to the cruise ship, which has now infected 12 people total with three fatalities. A Canadian passenger has also tested positive while isolating in British Columbia, and 36 Canadians have been impacted through exposure or contact tracing.