MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak Tracker

Cases

Confirmed & Probable — by location

☠️ Deaths — 3 · 🚢 🇿🇦

2 Confirmed1 Probable

Dutch man, 70 — died on board Apr 11, no test performed (probable). Dutch woman, 69 — collapsed in Johannesburg, died Apr 26 (PCR confirmed May 4). German woman — fever Apr 28, pneumonia, died on board May 2; initial tests negative but post-mortem samples later tested in the Netherlands confirmed ANDV (NEJM, May 20). Body cremated near Schiphol Airport May 18; ashes to be sent to family. The Dutch couple — Leo and Hanneke Schilperoord — were the index cases. Leo visited a landfill near Ushuaia on March 27, where rodent exposure likely occurred. They'd spent four months birdwatching across Chile, Uruguay and Argentina before boarding. The couple's bodies have been repatriated to the Netherlands.

🇿🇦 Johannesburg, South Africa — 1 active

Confirmed — Improving

PatientBritish male passenger Onset~Apr 21 (fever, shortness of breath) ConfirmedMay 2 — PCR at NICD, Johannesburg StatusImproving — last reported May 11, still hospitalized

Medevaced from Ascension Island Apr 27. Last clinical update May 11 (Foster Mohale: "improving, gradually so") — no SA statement on his condition since. SA traced 97 contacts (91 located — 86 Gauteng, 4 Western Cape). NICD (May 25): zero secondary laboratory-confirmed cases in South Africa; all cases ship-linked.

🇳🇱 Netherlands — 4 active

4 Confirmed — Stable

Patient 5 — Ship's doctor

PatientDutch crew member, 41 OnsetApr 30 (infected treating patients) ConfirmedMay 6 — evacuated to Leiden UMC StatusStable — still hospitalized (NEJM, May 20)

Patient 6 — Expedition guide

PatientMartin Anstee, British (retired police officer) OnsetApr 27 ConfirmedMay 6 — evacuated to Leiden UMC StatusWell enough to return home for self-isolation (May 18)

Dutch crew member (evacuated May 6)

PatientDutch crew member ConfirmedMay 6 — evacuated to Leiden UMC StatusStable — in isolation

Patient 12 — Dutch crew member (confirmed May 22)

PatientDutch crew member ConfirmedMay 22 — confirmed while in isolation in NL StatusIsolating

P12 disembarked at Tenerife, repatriated to NL, isolating since then — announced by Tedros May 22. 12 healthcare workers at Radboudumc quarantined after protocol breach. None symptomatic.

🇨🇭 Zurich, Switzerland — 1 active

Confirmed — Isolating

PatientMale passenger (Patient 7 per NEJM) OnsetMay 1 ConfirmedMay 5 — Andes virus confirmed StatusHospitalized — per NEJM/CIDRAP report; no update since

Left ship at St Helena, flew home via South Africa and Qatar. The NEJM clinical report (Patient 7) noted he remained hospitalized in Switzerland; no clinical update has been published since. Wife isolating as precaution, no symptoms.

🇫🇷 Paris, France — 1 active

Confirmed — ICU, critical

PatientFrench woman, 65 (Patient 9 per NEJM) Onset~May 10 (symptoms during repatriation flight) ConfirmedMay 12 — Bichat Hospital, Paris StatusICU, critical — as last reported May 13; no update since

Hospital initially reported ECMO; Paris public hospital authority corrected this May 18 — severity "could lead to needing" it. No clinical update from Bichat or French health authorities in three weeks. Pasteur Institute sequenced the virus: 97% match to known South American strains. 22 French contacts identified, all PCR-negative.

🇪🇸 Madrid, Spain — 2 confirmed

2 Confirmed

Patient 10 — first Spanish case

PatientSpanish male, 70 (Patient 10 per NEJM) Onset~May 10 (low-grade fever, mild respiratory) ConfirmedMay 12 — Gómez Ulla military hospital, Madrid StatusStable, improving. UATAN isolation unit

Patient 13 — second Spanish case (confirmed May 25)

PatientSpanish passenger, close contact ConfirmedMay 25 — routine PCR at Gómez Ulla StatusAsymptomatic. Transferred to UATAN

P13 was among the 13 Spanish passengers previously testing negative — caught by routine PCR. UATAN: negative-pressure, Ebola-era protocols. 12 remaining contacts still negative. Quarantine May 6 – June 17. 90 additional staff drafted in.

🇨🇦 Vancouver Island, Canada — 1 confirmed

Confirmed — Isolating, mild symptoms

PatientYukon resident, 70s OnsetMid-May (fever, headache) ConfirmedMay 17 — PHAC National Microbiology Lab, Winnipeg StatusIsolating on Vancouver Island, mild symptoms

Part of a couple in their 70s. Presumptive positive May 16 (B.C. provincial lab). Travelling partner tested negative. First confirmed Canadian case. CIDRAP notes this case was not detailed in the NEJM paper ("presumed positive late last week").

🇬🇧 Tristan da Cunha — 1 probable

Probable — Stable

PatientBritish male passenger OnsetApr 28 (left ship Apr 14) TestingNICD indicated Andes virus; WHO classifies as probable StatusStable

Island has ~220 residents, no airstrip. British Army parachuted 6 paratroopers and 2 medics from an RAF transport to deliver supplies and PCR tests. 42-day window cleared May 26.

13 cases · 62 days

Patient timeline — all 13 cases

The red zone on each bar marks Apr 6–11, when Patient 1 was symptomatic and infectious. Every subsequent onset falls after this window, consistent with Andes virus incubation. No transmission arrows — specific pairs are under investigation.

P1 · Leo Schilperoord, Dutch ♂ 70Died

Index case · On board · Rodent exposure at landfill, Ushuaia — Mar 27

Apr 6 Apr 11

Symptoms day 6 of voyage. Death attributed to natural causes — hantavirus not suspected for another 3 weeks.

P2 · Hanneke Schilperoord, Dutch ♀ 69Died

Partner of P1 · Died in Johannesburg ER

Apr 24 Apr 26

Went ashore at St Helena with GI symptoms. Too ill to complete connecting flight. PCR confirmed May 4.

P3 · British ♂Improving

Johannesburg · Medevaced from Ascension Island · Still hospitalized

Apr 21 May 2

The case that triggered the diagnosis — virtual consult between SA/UK/NL identified hantavirus.

P4 · German ♀Died

Died on board May 2 · ANDV confirmed post-mortem (NEJM)

Apr 28 May 2

Initial tests negative. Post-mortem samples confirmed ANDV in Netherlands. Cremated near Schiphol.

P5 · Ship's doctor, Dutch ♂ 41Hospitalized

Leiden UMC, Netherlands · Infected treating patients

Apr 30 May 6

Still hospitalized per NEJM (May 20). One of two surviving patients remaining in hospital.

P6 · Martin Anstee, British ♂Home isolation

Expedition guide, retired police officer · Netherlands → home

Apr 27 May 6

Well enough to return home for self-isolation as of May 18.

P7 · Swiss ♂Isolating

Zurich · Left ship at St Helena Apr 22

May 1 May 5

Flew home via South Africa and Qatar while asymptomatic. Wife isolating, no symptoms.

P8 · British ♂Probable

Tristan da Cunha · Left ship Apr 14 · Clear by May 26

Apr 28

NICD indicated Andes virus; WHO classifies as probable. British Army parachuted medics onto the island.

P9 · French ♀ 65ICU critical

Bichat Hospital, Paris · Not on ECMO (corrected May 18)

~May 10 May 12

Most critical surviving patient. Symptoms began during repatriation flight. Virus sequenced by Pasteur Institute. No condition update since May 13.

P10 · Spanish ♂ 70Stable, improving

Gómez Ulla military hospital, Madrid · UATAN isolation unit

~May 10 May 12

Initially required oxygen. Now improving. 13 other Spanish passengers cleared for visitors.

P11 · Canadian, 70sIsolating, mild

Vancouver Island · Yukon resident · Partner negative

~Mid-May May 17

Mild symptoms. Not detailed in NEJM paper — CIDRAP: "presumed positive late last week."

P12 · Dutch crew memberIsolating

Netherlands · Disembarked Tenerife, repatriated to NL · Confirmed May 22

May 22

4th case linked to the Netherlands. Announced by Tedros at Geneva press conference. Onset date not publicly reported. Admitted to hospital as precaution (DutchNews, May 23).

P13 · Spanish passengerAsymptomatic

Gómez Ulla, Madrid · Detected via routine PCR while in quarantine · Confirmed May 25

May 25

Was testing negative until routine PCR caught it. Asymptomatic. Transferred to UATAN high-level isolation unit. Second Spanish case.

Onset

Confirmed

Fatal / ICU

Hospitalized

Recovering

Probable

Source: NEJM NEJMc2606496 (May 20) · WHO · ECDC · National health agencies

Tracking

Countries Monitoring

🇺🇸 United States — 41 monitored, 0 cases

Zero confirmed cases

CDC confirmed: no hantavirus cases in the US. The early-returnee cohort — passengers who flew home before the outbreak was identified — completed 42-day monitoring on June 6 with no cases. At the Nebraska Quarantine Unit, the federal hold expired May 31; as of mid-June around 10 of the 18 passengers have left to finish monitoring at home (through June 22) under local surveillance, while the rest chose to stay for the full window. Travel photographer Jake Rosmarin posted that he is staying "until there is a 0% chance" of risk. A jurisdictional dispute has broken out between the CDC and Florida over one returning passenger's home quarantine; Angela Perryman, still at the facility, says she is being "held hostage in this power struggle." 41 total monitored across 16 states. Washington State: 6 residents monitored (all asymptomatic), separate unrelated Sin Nombre case in Chelan County. Illinois: potential unrelated case under investigation. Second Arizona passenger evaluated at Nebraska (May 14) — no outcome reported since.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — 22 repatriated + 9 relocated

All negative

22 people taken to Arrowe Park Hospital, North West England — 20 British nationals, 1 German UK resident, 1 Japanese passenger. 6 discharged to home isolation May 13 after testing negative and clinical assessment. Remaining passengers asymptomatic. 9 high-risk contacts (4 from St Helena, 5 from Ascension Island) relocated to UK May 16–17 via chartered Titan Airways flight — all asymptomatic, precautionary measure. Transferred to Arrowe Park. Separately, an Ascension Island medic who developed symptoms was medevac'd to UK May 15 — now testing negative, symptoms resolving. UK mandating 45-day isolation for all returning passengers.

🇫🇷 France — 35+ tracked

Tracing

5 passengers repatriated to Paris (1 positive in ICU — critical but not on ECMO per hospital correction May 18, 4 negative). 8 French nationals who shared a flight with a sick person 15 days ago in hospital isolation — none symptomatic, all PCR-negative. 22 total contact cases identified, all negative so far. Government issued decree strengthening isolation powers. Pasteur Institute fully sequenced the virus: matches known South American strains, no evidence of new characteristics.

🇿🇦 South Africa — 97 contacts

Cleared

97 potential contacts traced, 91 located and advised — 86 in Gauteng, 4 in Western Cape. A Western Cape suspect tested negative. NICD (May 25): no secondary laboratory-confirmed cases; all cases ship-linked; no sustained community transmission. The contact cohort completed its six-week monitoring window (from the Apr 25–26 Airlink flight exposure) in early June with no secondary cases. British patient in Johannesburg last reported improving (May 11). Dutch woman's remains repatriated to Netherlands. NICD confirmed the virus within 24 hours of alert, identified Andes within 4 days.

🇳🇱 Netherlands — 50 repatriated + 12 HCWs quarantined

4 Confirmed

50 passengers repatriated across two flights. 21 Filipino crew members in 42-day quarantine. 12 healthcare workers at Radboudumc in precautionary quarantine. 4th case (Dutch crew member) confirmed May 22 — admitted to hospital as precaution (DutchNews); testing by RIVM + Erasmus MC. Ship cleared for service by Dutch health authorities May 30 after deep cleaning and disinfection (EWS Group). Departs Rotterdam June 6 for Svalbard — also undergoing annual survey and maintenance — and returns to service June 13 with an Arctic cruise from Longyearbyen. NEJM: 2 of 7 surviving patients still hospitalized in the Netherlands.

🇪🇸 Spain — 14 repatriated

2 Confirmed

14 Spanish passengers at Gómez Ulla military hospital, Madrid. 2 confirmed positive — first patient (stable, improving, in UATAN), second patient confirmed May 25 (asymptomatic, transferred to UATAN). Detected via routine PCR while in quarantine. 12 remaining contacts negative. Quarantine from May 6, up to 42 days (ending June 17). 90 additional staff drafted in.

🇨🇦 Canada — 1 confirmed + 26 low-risk monitored

1 Confirmed

Yukon resident confirmed positive May 17 — isolating on Vancouver Island with mild symptoms. Travelling partner tested negative. PHAC asked 26 additional Canadians considered low risk to self-monitor. 4 Canadians (B.C.) isolated for minimum 21 days per Dr. Bonnie Henry. Ontario testing 10 asymptomatic people. Overall risk to Canadians assessed as low by PHAC.

🇸🇬 Singapore

Negative

Two passengers tested negative. Isolated at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases for 30 days.

🇦🇺 Australia · 🇳🇿 New Zealand

All negative — Quarantined

4 Australians, 1 British-Australian, and 1 New Zealander flew from the Netherlands to Perth on May 14 in full PPE. Quarantined at the Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience (500-bed facility). All asymptomatic, recent negative tests. Health Minister Mark Butler described it as one of the stronger global responses.

🇵🇭 Philippines · 🇮🇳 India · 🇦🇷 Argentina

Monitoring

Philippines: 21 crew members in Netherlands in 42-day quarantine per PH Embassy. 17 more crew arriving Monday on ship. India: 2 Indian crew members confirmed safe by Indian Embassy in The Hague, being monitored. Argentina: WHO confirmed origin — long-tailed rice rat in northern Argentina/Chile. 101 domestic cases since June 2025.

Response

Quarantine by Country

🇪🇸Spain — 14 at Gómez Ulla, Madrid. 2 confirmed positive in UATAN (first stable/improving, second asymptomatic — confirmed May 25). 12 remaining contacts negative. Quarantine May 6 to June 17.

🇺🇸US — early-returnee cohort cleared June 6 (no cases). ~10 of 18 Nebraska passengers now finishing monitoring at home through June 22; rest stayed by choice. CDC–Florida dispute over one passenger's home quarantine. Zero cases confirmed. 41 total monitored in 16 states.

🇬🇧UK — 22 at Arrowe Park, 6 discharged to home isolation May 13. 9 high-risk contacts relocated from St Helena/Ascension May 16–17 via chartered Titan Airways — all asymptomatic, now at Arrowe Park. Ascension medic medevac'd separately, testing negative. 45-day isolation.

🇫🇷France — 5 at Bichat Hospital (1 critical in ICU as last reported May 13, not on ECMO per May 18 correction; 4 negative). 8 flight contacts in hospital, all negative. Isolation decree in force.

🇳🇱Netherlands — 50 repatriated, home quarantine. 21 Filipino crew quarantined. 12 Radboudumc healthcare workers quarantined. 4th case (crew) confirmed May 22. Ship cleared for service May 30 — departs June 6, returns to service June 13.

🇦🇺Australia — 6 passengers arrived Perth May 14, quarantined at Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience. All negative, asymptomatic.

🌍Others — Singapore: 2 negative, 30-day isolation at NCID. Canada: 1 confirmed, isolating in B.C.; 26 low-risk monitored. Turkey, Ireland completed. WHO recommends 42-day quarantine from May 10.

Chronology

Timeline

Most recent first ↓

15 JunPenultimate update. Count holds at 13 (11 confirmed, 2 probable), 3 deaths — no new case since May 25 (3 weeks). CDC situation summary (Jun 11): ~10 of 18 US passengers now completing monitoring at home, the rest still at Nebraska through June 22. New CDC–Florida jurisdictional dispute over a returning passenger's home quarantine. French, British (Johannesburg) and Swiss patient outcomes remain unreported. Active monitoring concludes June 22 when the final cohorts clear

6 JunUS early-returnee cohort — passengers who disembarked and flew home before the outbreak was identified — completes its 42-day monitoring window with no detected cases (CDC)

2 JunOutbreak in its tail — count holds at 13 (11 confirmed, 2 probable), no deaths in 31 days. St Helena cohort 3 days from clearing; SA contact cohort ~5 days. French patient's condition not publicly updated since May 13

1 JunNebraska quarantine partially lifts: 5 of 18 US passengers sent home to finish monitoring through June 22 under home-confinement orders and police/public-health surveillance; 13 remain confined at the facility. CDC does not explain the criteria for who was released, drawing expert criticism. 2 New York residents return home under around-the-clock surveillance, 1 elects to stay in Nebraska

30 MayDutch health authorities clear MV Hondius for service after deep cleaning and disinfection. Ship to depart Rotterdam June 6 for Svalbard (also undergoing annual survey + maintenance), returning to service June 13 with an Arctic cruise from Longyearbyen

29 MayWHO publishes standardized case investigation form (EN/FR) and interim contact-management guidance via outbreak toolbox. NICD (May 25): zero secondary cases in South Africa, all cases ship-linked

28 MayCIDRAP confirms: 13 cases, 2 new in past week. Euronews fact-check debunks viral hantavirusmap.com screenshots shared on TikTok/X as "confirmed cases" (they are news signals)

26 MayECDC updates to 13 cases (11 confirmed, 2 probable). Case definition revised: confirmed now includes serology alongside PCR, aligned with WHO. Tristan da Cunha 42-day incubation window passes without incident — first cohort to clear. DutchNews: P12 (Dutch crew) admitted to hospital as precaution, testing by RIVM + Erasmus MC

25 MaySpain confirms second hantavirus case — one of the 13 Gómez Ulla passengers who had been testing negative. Asymptomatic; transferred to UATAN isolation unit. Detected via routine PCR. ECDC publishes additional guidance: IPC measures for healthcare settings, laboratory testing for high-risk contacts

24 MayECDC update: 12 cases (10 confirmed, 2 probable). No new cases since May 22. US passengers in day 15 at Nebraska

22 May12th case confirmed — Dutch crew member who disembarked Tenerife, repatriated to NL, tested positive while in isolation. Tedros announces at Geneva press conference: 12 cases, 3 deaths, 600+ contacts in 30 countries, "small number of high-risk contacts still being located." Oceanwide cancels May 29 and June 5 Arctic voyages — resume June 13 from Svalbard. EWS Group (COVID-era maritime specialists) conducting disinfection. Nebraska: officials awaiting CDC guidance on passenger release; Gov. Pillen and UNMC President Gold at briefing. WHO "Hantavirus in Focus II" webinar held — clinical management, infection control, natural history

21 MayShip disinfection at Rotterdam completing. ECDC: 11 cases (9 confirmed, 2 probable), risk very low

20 MayECDC revises case count to 11 (9 confirmed, 2 probable) — US inconclusive formally dropped. NEJM publishes clinical paper on outbreak (NEJMc2606496): details 10 of 11 cases, confirms ANDV in German woman's post-mortem samples (reclassified from probable to confirmed), notes 2 patients still hospitalized. Published via Public Health Alerts (NEJM Evidence + CIDRAP collaboration). WHO holds "Hantavirus in Focus I" webinar. Washington State: 6 residents monitored for Andes exposure (all asymptomatic), separate unrelated Sin Nombre case in Chelan County

19 MayCDC issues federal quarantine orders for 2 US passengers, signed by Acting Director Bhattacharya under 42 CFR 70/71 — all 18 asked to remain at Nebraska through May 31 (21-day mark). Some passengers report feeling "blindsided" after initially being told they could quarantine at home. CDC issues HAN-00529 — testing guidance, zero US cases. Spain: 13 Gómez Ulla contacts cleared for visitors after second negative PCR. British NL patient (Anstee) well enough to return home

18 MayMV Hondius arrives at Rotterdam's Europoort. 25 crew + 2 RIVM medics disembark. 23 non-Dutch crew enter quarantine in mobile homes dockside; Dutch crew and medics self-quarantine at home. German woman's body cremated near Schiphol Airport per family wishes. Disinfection begins (~3 days). Paris hospital authority corrects earlier claim: French patient is not on ECMO, remains in ICU critical. St Helena Government confirms 9 high-risk contacts relocated to UK via chartered Titan Airways (4 from St Helena, 5 from Ascension). Cases at 12 (9 confirmed, 2 probable, 1 inconclusive), 3 deaths

17 MayCanada confirmed — PHAC National Microbiology Laboratory confirms Yukon resident positive, isolating on Vancouver Island. Travelling partner negative. ECDC update: 12 cases (9 confirmed, 2 probable, 1 inconclusive). Spanish retesting: 13 passengers confirmed negative by double PCR

16 MayEmory couple transferred to Nebraska quarantine (both tested negative, medically cleared). Spanish patient "stable and improving" per Health Ministry. France's Pasteur Institute fully sequences the virus: 97% match to known South American Andes strains, no evidence of new transmissibility or virulence. ECDC: risk to EU/EEA public remains very low. Ship due Rotterdam Monday morning. Cases at 10 (8 confirmed, 2 probable), 3 deaths. No new cases in 4 days

15 MayWHO revises case count to 10 (8 confirmed, 2 probable) — Van Kerkhove confirms US inconclusive was negative. All crew remain symptom-free. Rotterdam: 23 temporary quarantine cabins erected at port for arriving crew. NL Times reports crew composition: Philippines (17), Ukraine (4), Russia (1), Poland (1)

14 MayECDC update: no new cases or deaths. Second Arizona passenger being evaluated at Nebraska Medicine after developing symptoms. 6 AU/NZ passengers arrive Perth, quarantined at Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience. CDC: 41 people monitored across US, zero confirmed cases. Kornfeld: "no evidence that I've had hantavirus"

13 MayWHO publishes DON601: 11 cases (8 confirmed, 1 inconclusive, 2 probable). Dr. Kornfeld (American) retests negative at Nebraska — moved from biocontainment to quarantine unit. French patient placed on ECMO (artificial lung; later corrected May 18). UK passengers begin leaving Arrowe Park for 42-day home isolation. CDC briefing: "engaged at every step," risk remains low. South Africa tracking 97 contacts

12 MaySpanish case confirmed — 10th confirmed (later revised, see May 15). 12 Dutch hospital workers quarantined at Radboudumc after protocol breach. Tedros + Sánchez joint press conference in Madrid. French patient critical at Bichat. Symptomatic American at Emory tests negative

11 MayFinal 6 passengers off (4 AU, 1 UK-AU, 1 NZ). Ship departs for Rotterdam with 27 crew. French passenger tests positive, ICU at Bichat Hospital. American positive at Nebraska biocontainment. 22 UK passengers to Arrowe Park. Spanish evacuee preliminary positive. 122 total repatriated (87 guests, 35 crew)

10 MayShip arrives Granadilla. 94 passengers of 19 nationalities disembark. Flights to Spain, France, US, UK, Canada, Turkey, Ireland. 1 American PCR positive (asymptomatic). 1 American symptomatic. Spain Alicante suspect tests negative. British Army parachutes medics onto Tristan da Cunha

9 MayTedros arrives Tenerife. Quarantine approved. Local protests

8 May6th confirmed. Alicante + Tristan da Cunha suspected. CDC ops activated

7 MayWHO: 8 cases, 3 deaths. KLM attendant negative

6 MayANDV confirmed. 3 evacuated to Netherlands. Ship departs for Tenerife. Canary Islands refuses; WHO invokes obligation

3–5 MayAnchored off Cape Verde — denied disembarkation

2 MayWHO notified. German woman dies on board — body remains on ship

1 MayShip's doctor ill; passenger doctor volunteers

26 AprDutch woman dies in Johannesburg

24 AprSt Helena — 32 leave, no tracing. Body + widow airlifted to Joburg

13–15 AprTristan da Cunha — passengers go ashore

11 AprFirst death — attributed to natural causes

6 AprDutch man, 70, develops symptoms

1 AprDeparts Ushuaia — 88 passengers, 59 crew from 23 nationalities

27 MarIndex patient Leo Schilperoord visits landfill near Ushuaia — likely point of rodent exposure

The Hondius Outbreak