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Hantavirus strain capable of human transmission found in 2 cruise ship passengers, officials say
South African health authorities have identified the Andes hantavirus, which can transmit between people, in two passengers from a cruise ship outbreak. One passenger is in intensive care in South Africa, another died after testing posthumously; three passengers have died in the outbreak and several are sick as the ship remains off Cape Verde. Background details indicate the ship had departed Argentina and earlier cases involved a Dutch woman and her husband who had travelled in South America before boarding.
Why It Matters
The Andes hantavirus is a rare zoonotic disease that can spread between people, raising international public health concerns for cruise ship outbreaks and cross-border transmission.
Timeline
5 Events
Background: ship departed Argentina; early cases included Dutch woman and husband who had travelled in Argentina
May 6, 2026
The ship had set sail from Argentina. Two of the first cases on board were a Dutch woman who died in South Africa and her husband; they had travelled in Argentina and elsewhere in South America before boarding.
Tests conducted after removal from ship and transport to South Africa
May 6, 2026
Tests were performed on the two passengers after they were removed from the ship and flown to South Africa for examination.
British passenger in intensive care; other passenger tested posthumously after death
May 6, 2026
One of the two identified passengers, a British man, is in intensive care in a South African hospital. Tests were conducted on the other passenger posthumously after she died in South Africa.
Andes hantavirus strain identified as capable of human-to-human transmission
May 6, 2026
The South African Department of Health reported identification of the Andes strain of hantavirus in two passengers on the cruise ship, noting that this strain can be transmitted from person to person.
Three passengers have died; ship off the coast of Cape Verde with additional illnesses; evacuation planned
May 6, 2026
South African authorities said three passengers have died in the cruise ship outbreak of hantavirus. At least four others are sick, and there are plans to evacuate some passengers as the ship sits off the coast of Cape Verde in West Africa.