Over six years ago, all companies, businesses, schools, and public places were informed that there would be a two-week shutdown requiring a state-wide stay at home order.`Little did society know, it would be much more than a shutdown.
Old but new concerns have been surfacing as a hantavirus outbreak arose on the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius.
This outbreak resulted in two laboratory confirmed cases, five suspected cases, and three deaths as of may 6-7th, 2026, with some of these cases being connected to the rare Andes virus strain. Of these individuals were one critically ill patient, and three individuals with mild symptoms.
Before you begin to panic, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers the risk to the global population due to this event as low. They will continue to monitor the epidemiological situation and will continue to update on the topic.
The Andes virus is unlike any other hantavirus due to the fact that it isn’t only transmitted from rodents to humans. It can allow for limited person-to-person transmission.
The initial part of the outbreak is believed to have been introduced on the ship before/during the early part of the journey. They are suspecting it was introduced via travelers visiting areas in South America with some rodent-borne infections.
Some of the symptoms associated with the Andes virus are severe respiratory symptoms, fever, gastrointestinal issues, rapid progression to pneumonia, and shock.
The initial response from the crew members of the MV Hondius was to isolate the passengers in their cabins as the ship traveled to the Canary Islands for further medical help and evaluation. However, several passengers were medically evacuated for intensive care.
Hantavirus infections are uncommon globally, in 2025 in the Region of the Americas, eight countries had 229 cases and 59 deaths.
There are no specific treatments or vaccines for the infections, however, early care and immediate referral to a facility with an ICU can improve chances of survival.
Some advice from the WHO is to focus on improving early detection ensuring early treatment and reducing any exposure risks. Any preventive measures should focus on ecotourism exposures and emphasize transmission-based infection prevention, and even include rodent control strategies.
Individuals that do choose to engage in outdoor activities where endemic transmission is known to happen, should take precautions to minimize any exposure to infectious materials.
For more information regarding the topic of the Andes virus and the recent outbreak, please visit the World Health Organization.