South Africa
A rare and lethal hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship has killed three people and left one patient in critical condition in a South African hospital, prompting an urgent international response and renewed warnings about the virus in 2026.
The cluster centres on the MV Hondius, an expedition cruise ship that departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on March 20, 2026, bound for the Canary Islands via Cabo Verde. Between April 6 and April 28, passengers began falling ill with flu-like symptoms that rapidly progressed to pneumonia and acute respiratory distress. The World Health Organization was only notified on May 2, by which point seven cases had been identified , two confirmed and five suspected.
South Africa’s Department of Health confirmed on May 4 that a British national is in critical condition in isolation at a private hospital in Sandton, Gauteng after testing positive for hantavirus.
The man fell ill on April 27 after the ship departed Saint Helena. He was initially treated at Ascension Island, but his condition continued to deteriorate, requiring an emergency medical evacuation to Sandton for advanced care. Laboratory tests returned positive for hantavirus on May 4.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has urged the public not to panic, stating that authorities are actively tracing contacts and that the situation is contained. The patient remains in isolation and is receiving appropriate medical care.
A second passenger , an adult female and close contact of the Sandton patient , collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport on April 25 while in transit to the Netherlands and later died at a medical facility in Kempton Park. Laboratory results for her case are still outstanding.
The first fatality on the ship was a 70-year-old male passenger who died on arrival at Saint Helena on April 24 after developing fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. His remains are awaiting repatriation to the Netherlands.
Case 4 – The Second Fatality: An adult female developed fever and general illness on April 28 and died on May 2, 2026.
Onboard Suspected Cases: Three other passengers remain on board the MV Hondius with high fever and/or gastrointestinal symptoms. Medical teams in Cabo Verde are evaluating them and collecting specimens for testing.
Switzerland Case: A man who also travelled on the MV Hondius after a South America trip was confirmed positive in Switzerland on May 4 and is in isolation at University Hospital Zurich. His wife has not shown symptoms but is self-isolating as a precaution.
When The World First Took Notice: The Hackman Case
Hantavirus shot into global headlines earlier this year when actor Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were linked to the disease.
In February 2026, Arakawa died at their New Mexico home from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Hackman, 95, was found dead days later from heart disease, though officials said he’d been showing early symptoms consistent with hantavirus exposure too. The case drew widespread attention because of Hackman’s fame and because it highlighted how the virus can strike even in rural US settings where people don’t expect it. Most hantavirus cases in the US occur when people clean out rodent-infested cabins or garages without proper protection.
What Makes This Outbreak Different
This is the Andes virus strain ,the only hantavirus with documented human-to-human transmission. Most hantavirus infections are caught from aerosolized rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, and don’t spread easily between people. The Andes strain is the exception, which is why authorities are treating it with extra caution.
Investigators have found no rodents on board the MV Hondius, raising questions about the original source of infection. The ship’s doctor has also been evacuated gravely ill.
Symptoms and Risk
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome starts like the flu, fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and coughing. Within days it can progress to HPS, where the lungs fill with fluid and the fatality rate hits 35-40%. There is no approved cure. Treatment is supportive care in ICU with oxygen and fluid management.
Symptoms typically appear 2-4 weeks after exposure, but can show up as early as one week or as late as eight weeks.
Authorities in Cabo Verde, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and the UK have launched a coordinated investigation, including contact tracing for passengers on the Johannesburg flight. Laboratory confirmation is being conducted at South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
WHO Africa’s Regional Director Professor Mohamed Janabi said the risk to Africa remains low but vigilance is high. “This is a serious but contained event and there is no need for panic or travel restrictions at this stage,” he said.
In the Americas, cases have also risen ,Chile reported 35 confirmed cases in 2025 with a 20% fatality rate. Most cases occur in rural settings where people are exposed to rodent-infested areas during farming or cleaning. California reported its first hantavirus-positive rodent of 2026 in February.
Hantavirus is still rare, but it’s lethal. The best protection is avoiding contact with rodents and their droppings. If you must clean areas with rodent evidence, never sweep or vacuum , soak with bleach-based disinfectant first to prevent airborne particles.
For travellers, the WHO advises monitoring for fever and respiratory symptoms for up to eight weeks after potential exposure.
The MV Hondius remains off Cabo Verde with three suspected cases still on board. As investigations continue, health officials are urging vigilance but stress that sustained human-to-human transmission remains uncommon.
