Three deaths on Dutch cruise ship linked to Andes strain hantavirus as Argentina cases rise

TL;DR: Three passengers died of hantavirus on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius after sailing from Argentina, and survivors tested positive for the Andes strain, the only hantavirus variant known to spread between people. Argentina reported 101 cases and 32 deaths since July last year, exceeding recent seasons but remaining within its long‑term average.

Context: Hantavirus infections usually arise from contact with rodent droppings, but the Andes strain, found mainly in parts of Argentina and Chile, has demonstrated person‑to‑person transmission in past outbreaks. Thirty years ago, a rural Patagonia outbreak first showed this spread, and a 2011 cluster traced to a birthday party resulted in 11 deaths. These events established that the Andes strain can move between humans, unlike other hantaviruses that remain rodent‑borne.

Key Facts: Three passengers aboard the MV Hondius died after the ship left Argentina for Cape Verde; surviving passengers tested positive for the Andes strain. Since July of the previous year, Argentina logged 101 hantavirus cases and 32 deaths, compared with 64 cases/14 deaths in 2024‑25 and 82 cases/13 deaths in 2023‑24. The World Health Organization has said the risk to the general public remains “absolutely low” and has ruled out an epidemic, noting that person‑to‑person spread does not occur easily. Argentina’s health ministry is investigating possible rodent exposure along the pre‑boarding route of the first symptomatic couple, who traveled through Tierra del Fuego, Chile, and Uruguay before embarking on 1 April.

What It Means: For travelers, the practical takeaway is to avoid contact with rodents and their waste in rural areas of Argentina and Chile, and to seek medical care promptly if fever, muscle aches, or respiratory symptoms appear after such exposure. Clinicians should consider hantavirus in patients with compatible symptoms and recent South‑American travel, especially if clusters arise. Public‑health officials should continue rodent surveillance and maintain mandatory reporting, which has been in place since 1996. Investment in vector control and laboratory capacity remains important, as experts warn that funding cuts could weaken response capacity.

Watch for results of Argentina’s rodent sampling along the travelers’ route, any additional cases linked to the MV Hondius voyage, and updated WHO guidance on travel-related hantavirus risk.