Hantavirus cases linked to cruise ship rise to 13, WHO says
WHO reports 13 hantavirus cases tied to a cruise ship outbreak, with three deaths; passengers remain in quarantine and officials continue international investigations.
The World Health Organization confirmed on May 27, 2026 that hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship outbreak have risen to 13, with three deaths reported.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a new case was identified among passengers under quarantine in Spain, prompting the updated tally.
Health authorities described the situation as stable, noting that those infected are receiving medical care while others remain under observation.
WHO confirms 13 hantavirus cases linked to cruise ship
The WHO update on May 27, 2026 officially raised the total to 13 confirmed hantavirus infections associated with the vessel.
The director-general communicated the development via the social media platform X after receiving notification from Spanish authorities.
Officials emphasized continued case finding and monitoring among the ship’s passengers and crew as part of routine outbreak control.
Three fatalities reported; no new deaths since May 2, 2026
Of the 13 confirmed cases, three patients have died as a result of the hantavirus infection.
WHO stated there have been no additional fatalities since May 2, 2026, and that the mortality figure remains at three.
Authorities continue to review clinical records to determine the course of illness and factors influencing severity among affected individuals.
Patients receiving care while others remain in quarantine
Health agencies reported that patients who tested positive are receiving appropriate medical treatment in accordance with national protocols.
Other passengers and contacts remain in quarantine to allow for symptom monitoring and to limit further transmission.
Public health teams are conducting follow-up testing and providing support services for those in isolation.
All passengers disembarked from M.V. Hundius around May 13, 2026
The outbreak centered on the cruise ship M.V. Hundius, and officials said all passengers had left the vessel roughly two weeks prior to the WHO update.
Based on the timeline provided by authorities, disembarkation occurred around May 13, 2026, after the ship was identified as the outbreak’s focal point.
Investigators are reviewing embarkation and disembarkation records to reconstruct exposure windows and potential points of contact.
Spanish authorities notify WHO after new case detected in quarantine
The latest case that prompted WHO’s revision was identified among quarantined passengers in Spain, according to the director-general’s statement.
Spanish public health authorities notified WHO after laboratory confirmation, triggering an international alert and updated case count.
Officials from Spain and WHO are coordinating to trace contacts, assess laboratory results, and share findings with other countries that received disembarked passengers.
Public health response and international monitoring under way
International and national public health teams have mobilized to support clinical management, epidemiologic investigations, and risk communication.
WHO is maintaining contact with affected countries and supporting laboratory testing, case investigations, and guidance for quarantine and clinical care.
Countries that received passengers from the M.V. Hundius are being advised to enhance surveillance and report any suspected cases linked to the voyage.
Hantavirus infections linked to the cruise ship have prompted renewed attention to infection prevention on passenger vessels, with authorities reviewing sanitation, rodent control, and medical screening practices.
Investigators are prioritizing sequencing of virus samples and contact tracing to better define transmission pathways and to rule out any sustained person-to-person spread.
Public health officials continue to stress that early detection, prompt medical care, and strict quarantine measures are central to limiting further cases and protecting public health.
Health ministries and WHO will provide further updates as laboratory confirmations and contact investigations progress, and they urge anyone who travelled on the M.V. Hundius or who develops symptoms to seek immediate medical evaluation.
