Epidemiological tracking
Hantavirus outbreak
aboard the MV Hondius
Official figures, timeline and verified data on the outbreak declared on the Oceanwide Expeditions polar expedition vessel, docked at Gran Canaria on May 10, 2026.
Official toll
Updated on May 10, 2026 — sources: WHO, ECDC.
- 8 positive cases 6 confirmed · 2 probable
- 3 deaths Netherlands, Germany
- 149 people on board Passengers and crew
- 23 nationalities Contact tracing in progress
Map of cases and contact tracing
Confirmed and probable cases, plus countries involved in contact tracing.
- Death
- Confirmed case
- Contact tracing
Textual list equivalent
Countries with cases
- Netherlands — 2 case(s), 2 death(s)
- United Kingdom — 1 case(s)
- Germany — 1 case(s), 1 death(s)
- Switzerland — 1 case(s)
Countries with contact tracing
- Belgium — 5 contacts
- France — 8 contacts
- Greece — 3 contacts
- Ireland — 4 contacts
- Poland — 6 contacts
- Portugal — 4 contacts
- Spain — 7 contacts
- United States — 3 contacts
- Canada — 2 contacts
- Australia — 2 contacts
🇫🇷 France focus
5 French nationals in strict isolation at Bichat Hospital
As of May 10, 2026, here is what is known about the French passengers of the MV Hondius.
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People involved
5 French passengers
No French crew members on board.
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Health status
1 passenger had symptoms during the flight
Taken in immediately at Bichat. PCR test in progress.
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Hospitalisation
Strict 72-hour isolation at Bichat Hospital (Paris 18th)
WHO decision: all MV Hondius passengers classified as 'high-risk contacts'.
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Legal framework
Decree by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, evening of 10 May 2026
Isolation measures adapted to contact cases, protective for the general population.
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After the 72 hours
Home isolation for 45 days
Covers the maximum Andes virus incubation period. Regional Health Agency follow-up.
Latest news on French passengers
- Dozens of people from cruise ship struck by hantavirus leave Tenerife The Guardian — World
- French national shows symptoms on return from hantavirus-hit ship BBC News — Health
- Nederlandse Hondius-passagiers vanuit Tenerife vertrokken naar Eindhoven NOS — Algemeen
- Brote de hantavirus: Cómo se preparan los médicos de Tenerife para la evacuación del crucero afectado por el hantavirus - BBC BBC
- Passengers on Hantavirus Cruise Ship Will Disembark in Tenerife and Return to Home Countries - The New York Times The New York Times
Sources: France Info — Bichat Hospital surveillance · CNews — Lecornu decree on isolation measures · Europe 1 — Adapted isolation measures · France Diplomatie
Andes virus — documented person-to-person transmission
The Andes virus, identified in patients by PCR on May 3, 2026, is the only hantavirus for which person-to-person transmission has been documented. This transmission requires close, prolonged contact with a symptomatic individual. The WHO rates the risk to the general population as low and maintains active surveillance.
Timeline
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MV Hondius departs Ushuaia, Argentina.
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First death — Dutch man (70) near Saint Helena.
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Body disembarked in Saint Helena.
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Dutch woman (69) dies. British passenger evacuated to South Africa.
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Third death — German citizen.
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PCR positive for hantavirus (Andes virus).
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Cape Verde denies entry to the ship.
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WHO confirms possible human-to-human transmission. 7 cases (2 confirmed, 5 suspected). Low public risk.
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8 cases (6 confirmed, 2 probable). Ship docks in Canary Islands.