The MV Hondius docked in Rotterdam on May 18, 2026, following a deadly Andes virus outbreak that has resulted in three deaths and 11 confirmed or probable cases. As passengers undergo quarantine, public health officials are monitoring potential contacts for a 42-day incubation period while new clinical data clarifies the transmission risks of this specific hantavirus strain.
While most hantaviruses are contracted directly from rodents, Wendy Zukerman of Science Vs highlights the unique danger of this strain, noting, "Most types of hantavirus cannot spread from person to person except the version of hantavirus that showed up on the cruise ship. It's called the Andes virus, and it can."
Experts are digging into the mechanics of why this strain acts differently. Prof. Ann Sheehy explains the genetic distinction on Science Vs: "They're pretty highly related, but there's regions that are a little bit different between Sin Nombre, which doesn't spread human to human, and Andes that does."
Despite the clinical clarity on its transmission, the exact vector remains a point of scientific inquiry. Wendy Zukerman notes, "We don't actually know exactly how the virus is spreading from person to person. Is it through coughing, through breathing, through touching?" As health departments continue to monitor those repatriated to the Nebraska Quarantine Unit, the focus remains on whether containment protocols will successfully halt the spread beyond the original cruise cohort.
