As of 14 May 2026, the MV Hondius outbreak has triggered public health responses in at least 16 countries. The situations vary widely — from active quarantine of passengers in Nebraska to routine monitoring of low-risk contacts in Singapore. Below is the status for each country where cases, monitoring or contact tracing has been confirmed by an official health authority.
How countries define and count cases differently
The numbers above come with an important caveat: different countries apply different case definitions. WHO DON601 reports 8 confirmed (PCR-positive), 1 inconclusive and 2 probable cases globally. But individual country reports may differ because some classify cases as "suspected" where WHO uses "probable," and some count only their own nationals while WHO counts by location of diagnosis. The French case, for example, is counted by WHO under France but was diagnosed after evacuation from Tenerife.
Additionally, the numbers change daily. The Spanish case was confirmed on 12 May, the French patient's condition was described as critical on 13 May, and the 12 Dutch healthcare workers were isolated on the same day. By the time you read this page, the situation may have evolved further. Always check the official source links for each country for the most current status.
Countries monitoring without confirmed cases
Several countries have activated monitoring programmes for returned passengers or flight contacts without reporting any confirmed or probable cases. These include Canada (PHAC following returned travellers), Belgium, and at least five other nations whose passengers disembarked at Saint Helena on 24 April and have since returned home. The UK Health Security Agency is coordinating the trace for all 30 Saint Helena disembarkees, regardless of nationality, because Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory.
What returnees in any country should do
Regardless of which country you are in, the WHO-recommended protocol is the same: self-monitor for 42 days from your last exposure to a confirmed or probable case. Check temperature twice daily. Watch for sudden fever combined with deep muscle aches in the thighs and hips. If symptoms develop, go to a hospital emergency department immediately and state your exposure. Do not wait for a GP appointment. The risk checker tool can help you determine your exposure level and find your country-specific contact information.
Check your personal risk level →