An Oceanwide Expeditions cruise ship experienced a confirmed Hantavirus outbreak after docking at Saint Helena Island. One passenger died, prompting the vessel to disembark 29 additional passengers before health authorities confirmed the outbreak, raising concerns about potential disease transmission to multiple geographic locations.

A view of the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius is seen navigating the Atlantic Ocean near Saint Helena Island on April 24, 2026. The World Health Organization says three people have died in an outbreak of hantavirus on the ship. Here’s what else to know about the disease and how to avoid exposure.

PARIS. On the small, remote islands where cruise passengers from m/v Hondius have disembarked, concerns about epidemics are growing. "There are almost no opportunities for intensive care here," says Swedish intensive care doctor Attila Frigyesi, former hospital manager on the island of Saint Helena.

WHO confirms Andes strain in MV Hondius outbreak and traces 23 passengers who disembarked at Saint Helena The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Wednesday that the variant responsible for the hantavirus outbreak aboard polar cruise ship MV Hondius is the Andes virus, the only documented strain capable of human-to-human transmission, raised the total number of linked cases to eight, and launched the international tracing of 23 passengers who left the ship two weeks ago during a stop at the island of Saint Helena. The confirmation of the strain represents a significant epidemiological development and substantially widens the scope of the health investigation.