Questions and answers on the hantavirus outbreak in a cruise ship

Last updated: 26 May 2026

What is hantavirus and the Andes strain?

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that people usually catch through particles from infected rodents. It can cause serious illness, and the symptoms depend on the type of hantavirus involved. The Andes virus, which is involved in this outbreak, is a hantavirus primarily found in South America that can lead to a severe lung infection called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which can worsen quickly and become life-threatening.

How do you catch hantavirus, and how infectious is it?

Hantavirus mainly spreads via inhalation of contaminated particles from the urine, faeces or saliva of infected rodents. Only one strain, Andes – the one involved in this outbreak – can spread between people. However, it only does so in very specific, close contact situations. Hantavirus can be very dangerous for the person who gets sick, but does not pose the same broad outbreak risk as SARS, or COVID‑19.

Can Andes hantavirus spread between people?

Andes hantavirus, which is involved in this outbreak, is found mainly in South America and is the only hantavirus that is known to spread between people. Nevertheless, such transmission is considered rare and typically requires close or prolonged contact with person with the infection.

Why is this not considered the next pandemic? 

Unlike COVID-19, Andes hantavirus does not spread easily between people. Human-to-human transmission is rare and requires prolonged close contact, often in enclosed settings. In addition, the natural rodent reservoir for the virus is not present in Europe, making sustained spread in the community unlikely.

Has the virus changed or become more dangerous? 

Recent genetic sequencing of the virus strongly suggests that the confirmed tested passenger samples are linked to the same original source of infection. Genomic information also shows that the virus involved in the outbreak is similar to Andes viruses already known to circulate in South America and is not a new variant. There is currently no evidence that this variant spreads more easily or causes more severe disease than other Andes viruses.

How many people have contracted the virus in this outbreak?

For the latest figures, check ECDC's page for this outbreak.

Is there a vaccine or specific treatment?

There is no vaccine for hantavirus and treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and supportive care. 

What is the risk to the general public in Europe?

The risk to the general population in Europe is very low. 

Recent developments do not affect ECDC’s assessment, and the risk for the general population in the EU/EEA remains very low. 

The Andes virus does not spread easily between people, and the types of contact needed for transmission are uncommon outside very close personal settings. In addition, the rodents that normally carries this virus do not live in Europe, so ongoing spread through animals is not expected.

Why are additional hantavirus cases being found after people leave the ship?

The identification of additional cases after passengers have left the ship is not unexpected given the long incubation period of Andes hantavirus and the possibility that some infections occurred on board.

Is there a risk for transmission in the community beyond former passengers and crew?

Based on the current evidence, the risk of wider community transmission remains very low. Public health measures, including monitoring, isolation measures for suspected cases, contact tracing and infection prevention and control procedures, continue to be applied by all countries to reduce the likelihood of further spread.

Can former passengers and crew transmit the virus to family members at home?

The possibility of limited person-to-person transmission cannot be fully excluded, particularly through close and prolonged contact. However, Andes hantavirus does not spread easily between people, and the likelihood of transmission to a household member remains low, if the public health instructions on self-quarantine are followed. In case quarantine cannot be safely done at home, public health authorities may organise quarantine in a dedicated facility.

I have been in contact with a person who tested positive for Andes hantavirus. What do I need to do?

Contact your local public health authorities, which will be able to give you appropriate advice based on your level of risk. Decisions on how measures are implemented remain the responsibility of national authorities, who may adapt the recommendations according to their national context, operational needs and public health systems and personal circumstances. In some cases, countries are not implementing home self-quarantine at all.

If you are asked to self-quarantine at home, the recommendations include staying at home according to local guidance, avoiding visitors, and keeping your distance from others in your household, using separate items and spaces where possible. Monitor yourself daily for symptoms such as fever (≥38°C), chills, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, and respiratory issues. Contact public health authorities if you feel unwell, as advised in your country.

Maintain good hygiene – wash your hands often, regularly clean surfaces you’ve touched with household disinfectants (diluted bleach 1:10 or products with 70% alcohol), and wear a mask if you need to be near others. Wash your clothes, towels, and bedding separately from others, but you can keep using the same washing machine you regularly use.

If for any reason you cannot safely quarantine at home, your local public health team will guide you to an appropriate quarantine facility and provide you with any information you need.

What hygiene and waste measures should I follow during self-quarantine?

Put your waste (including tissues, masks, or anything used when coughing or sneezing) in a regular trash bag, close it well, and throw it away with normal household waste. If you feel sick, handle items that touched your body or body fluids (including disposable cleaning tissues) carefully and keep them sealed before disposal. Always wash your hands after handling waste and try not to share bins without cleaning them regularly with household disinfectants (diluted bleach 1:10 or products with 70% alcohol).

How do I monitor my health during self-quarantine, and when should I seek help?

During self-quarantine, you should monitor for symptoms such as a high fever (≥38°C), chills, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and breathing difficulties. These symptoms typically appear within two to four weeks of infection, though cases have been reported where they occur up to 42 days after exposure. Should any of these develop, seek immediate medical advice or contact your public health authority for guidance and follow-up. 

How and when can we rule out that a person is no longer infectious?

In most cases, there is an incubation period of approximately two to four weeks. But longer incubation periods (up to 42 days) have been reported, hence the advice for quarantine for 6 weeks. If no symptoms develop during this time, a contact is no longer at risk of developing illness. If symptoms develop, a person is infectious from the day of onset of symptoms until recovery. The decision on when a person is no longer infectious is based on symptoms, clinical recovery and testing rather than a single fixed rule.

ECDC provided scientific guidance on managing individuals on board the MV Hondius in the context of the Andes virus outbreak. Why may countries take different approaches?

Countries may adapt public health measures based on their national context, healthcare systems, operational capacities and legal frameworks. While ECDC provides common scientific advice and recommendations, national authorities assess how best to implement these measures according to their specific needs and circumstances. 

Why are public health authorities concerned about this outbreak?

This outbreak is concerning for the following reasons:

• While humans can usually only get a hantavirus infection from contact with contaminated particles from rodents, this outbreak involves the Andes strain, which can spread between humans, although this happens rarely.
• Infection with Andes virus has a high fatality rate, as it can cause a life-threatening condition called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.
•  There is no treatment to tackle the infection or vaccine for the Andes virus, and treatment focuses on addressing symptoms.

Can people transmit Andes hantavirus before they develop symptoms?

Current very limited evidence does not support a significant role for asymptomatic individuals in hantavirus transmission, supporting active symptom monitoring of asymptomatic exposed individuals. Infectivity is highest on the day when symptoms start, which indicates that transmission shortly before onset of symptoms cannot be excluded.

Can Andes hantavirus remain in semen for years after infection?

Some studies have detected genetic material from Andes hantavirus in semen long after recovery from infection, including one report describing detection several years later. However, detecting viral genetic material does not mean that infectious virus is still present or that a person can transmit the virus during that entire period. At present, there is no evidence that recovered individuals remain infectious for years, and Andes hantavirus transmission between people remains rare and associated mainly with close and prolonged contact.

How do I handle misinformation and how do I know what information on the outbreak is accurate? 

When disease outbreaks happen, like the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship, people may feel worried or scared. There are often many unknowns during an outbreak, and the situation can change quickly. It is natural that people look for answers to their questions and concerns, and may develop their own theories about why an outbreak is happening. 

Along with an outbreak, you will often see a surge of misinformation. Believing in misinformation depends on many factors, such as whether people trust the source or if it fits with their prior knowledge or beliefs. Our information environment, steered by algorithms, also plays a large role in what kind of misinformation and correct information we encounter. 

When it comes to outbreak information, it is always best to consult the websites and social media channels of official verified health authorities in your country, or international ones like ECDC and WHO.