On May 13, 2026, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) announced there were no indications that the Andes strain of hantavirus had mutated following a deadly outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship. Three passengers have died, and several others have been confirmed to be infected, raising international concern.

Dr. Andreas Hoefer from the ECDC noted that preliminary genome sequencing indicates the virus remains consistent with known variants, implying a single transmission event from an infected rodent to humans. Current cases have mostly involved individuals who had close contact with the virus during their voyage.

The outbreak has prompted health authorities to implement strict monitoring and quarantine protocols, including a 42-day observation period for those exposed, as the disease can have an incubation period of up to six weeks. The ECDC emphasized the need for contact tracing, particularly for individuals who showed symptoms in the days leading up to diagnosis.

Despite these measures, the overall risk of broader transmission remains low, according to the ECDC and World Health Organization (WHO). Laboratory confirmations from South Africa and Switzerland have established the virus as the Andes strain, which is notorious for its potential to spread between humans, although such instances typically require prolonged close contact.

Both agencies are continuously monitoring the situation and updating public health officials on new findings regarding this outbreak and potential future cases.