Where did the virus come from if the ship was in the Atlantic?
The working hypothesis, according to Argentine investigators and WHO DON601, is that the infection was acquired on land before the ship departed. A Dutch couple who boarded at Ushuaia on 1 April had spent months travelling through rodent-endemic zones in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. A birdwatching excursion near a landfill outside Ushuaia is the leading suspected exposure event. Teams from Argentina's Malbrán Institute are testing rodents along the couple's route. Full outbreak route and timeline.
Which countries have confirmed cases right now?
As of WHO DON601 (13 May 2026): 11 total cases across multiple countries, 8 laboratory-confirmed, 1 with inconclusive results being retested, and 2 probable. Confirmed cases have been reported among passengers hospitalised in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France and Spain. South Africa recorded a death. The United States has one inconclusive result under retesting at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Singapore isolated two residents who shared a flight with a confirmed case. Contact monitoring is active in at least 16 countries. See the live map.
Is person-to-person spread really possible?
Only with Andes virus, and only through close, sustained contact. The mechanism requires proximity over hours or days, sharing meals, sleeping in the same confined space, or direct contact with respiratory secretions during the first days of illness. It is not airborne in the way influenza spreads through a crowded room. Previous clusters in Argentina, including the 2019 Epuyén outbreak, confirmed this limited but real transmission pathway. The confined quarters of a 196-berth expedition ship created the conditions for it to happen at sea. More about the Andes exception.
What happened to the three people who died?
A 70-year-old Dutch man developed symptoms on 6 April and died aboard the ship on 11 April, his death was initially attributed to natural causes. His 69-year-old wife left the ship at Saint Helena on 24 April, flew via Johannesburg, deteriorated during transit and died in South Africa. A German national also died; official details about this case remain limited. Two of the three deaths are confirmed as caused by Andes virus; the third is classified as probable.
I was a passenger or I know someone who was. What should we do?
Self-monitor daily for 42 days from your last possible exposure (the maximum incubation period for Andes virus). Check your temperature morning and evening. The pattern to watch for is sudden fever with deep muscle aches concentrated in the thighs and hips, with or without stomach symptoms. If anything matching that pattern appears, go directly to a hospital emergency department and tell them about your ship or flight exposure. Do not share utensils, towels or sleeping spaces during the monitoring period. National health authorities are running active follow-up, you may hear from them directly. Full 42-day monitoring guide.
Should I avoid cruises or cancel travel plans?
Both WHO and CDC assess the risk to the general public as low. This outbreak traces back to a specific land-based exposure before boarding, followed by person-to-person transmission in the unusually close quarters of a small expedition vessel. Major cruise operators have implemented enhanced rodent control and sanitation measures in response. CDC states that routine travel can continue as normal. If you are visiting rural areas of southern Argentina or Chile, take standard rodent-avoidance precautions and report any symptoms within eight weeks of returning.
Why was the virus not identified for three weeks?
Three factors combined. First, the ship was thousands of kilometres from any known Andes virus endemic zone, so the virus was not on anyone's differential diagnosis. Second, the early symptoms, fever, headache, gastrointestinal distress, overlap precisely with seasickness and common gastroenteritis. Third, the first death on 11 April was attributed to natural causes in a 70-year-old patient. Only when multiple passengers developed severe respiratory illness simultaneously did the pattern become clear. By then, 30 passengers had already left the ship at Saint Helena and dispersed across continents.
Where is the ship now?
The MV Hondius docked at Tenerife's Granadilla port on 10 May. All passengers and crew disembarked by 11 May. Charter flights repatriated passengers to six European countries and Canada. Sixteen Americans were flown to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (National Quarantine Unit) and two to Emory University in Atlanta. The ship departed Tenerife after disembarkation was complete.
Is there any treatment available?
No approved antiviral drug exists for any hantavirus. China uses an inactivated vaccine for HFRS domestically, but no equivalent exists for Andes virus or HPS. Ribavirin showed limited benefit for HFRS in Asia but proved ineffective against HPS. All treatment is supportive, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation when needed, careful fluid management to prevent the lungs from flooding further, and cardiovascular support. Early admission to intensive care remains the single most important factor in survival. Symptoms and when to seek care.
How are the numbers on this map calculated?
The map pulls data from a backend service that polls WHO Disease Outbreak Notifications and CDC situation summaries every 30 minutes. When sources report different numbers, the higher figure is used (case counts only increase during active outbreaks). Map markers are manually curated based on official country notifications. This is an independent dashboard for situational awareness, always verify with WHO or CDC before making health decisions.