Three people have died so far after an outbreak of the Hanta virus on the “Hondius”. Many questions are still unclear. Image: keystone
The hantavirus that broke out on the cruise ship “Hondius” continues to be the focus of the World Health Organization (WHO) and various national authorities. The latest developments.
May 7, 2026, 9:28 amMay 7, 2026, 1:58 p.m
Three people have died from Hantavirus so far and Switzerland is also affected: On Wednesday it was announced that a patient was being treated at Zurich University Hospital.
However, many questions about the outbreak on the “Hondius” are still unclear. These are the latest developments.
Geneva virologist does not expect a major epidemic
Manuel Schibler, doctor in charge at the Laboratory of Virology at the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), estimates the risk of a widespread epidemic to be low.
He referred to an outbreak in Argentina between late 2018 and early 2019. “We have a pretty strong example of an epidemic […]which resulted in 34 documented cases, including 11 deaths.” It is assumed that the spread will not exceed a few dozen cases.
29 passengers left the ship during the stopover
The cruise ship “Hondius” made a stopover before the hantavirus was discovered, where, according to the organizer Oceanwide Expeditions, 29 passengers disembarked.
These passengers left the ship on April 24th on the British island of St. Helena in the south of the Atlantic Ocean. According to the information, that was a good ten days before the first hantavirus case was confirmed.
The Dutch woman who died of the virus in Johannesburg a short time later also left the ship on the island. Her husband had already died on board about two weeks earlier. At the time of the stop, it was unclear that the hantavirus might have been the cause. A Swiss man also left the ship in St. Helena. He is now also infected with the virus and is in a clinic in Zurich.
Stewardess with symptoms in hospital
A stewardess who was in direct contact with a woman infected with the hantavirus was admitted to a hospital in Amsterdam with symptoms of the disease. This was announced by the Ministry of Health in The Hague. The flight attendant has mild symptoms and is in isolation. She will now be tested for the hantavirus.
She was in Johannesburg on board the KLM plane, which also briefly carried a Dutch woman who died of the virus a short time later. The Dutch authorities have contacted all passengers on board the KLM plane. According to the information, they are checked regularly.
Flight landed with sick crew member of the “Hondius”.
The second evacuation plane carrying a sick crew member from the cruise ship hit by the hantavirus has landed at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. According to authorities, the patient was taken to a hospital.
A total of three people were evacuated from board the ship, which was off Cape Verde at the time, on Wednesday. Two sick crew members, a Briton (56) and a Dutchman (41), as well as a German woman (65).
One of the two crew members and the German woman landed at Schiphol Airport in the evening on the first evacuation plane. The second flight had to stop in Gran Canaria due to technical problems and was only able to continue its journey to Amsterdam early in the morning.
Hantavirus contact person in the Düsseldorf clinic
The German woman (65) mentioned above arrived late on Wednesday evening in a special transport convoy for a precautionary examination at the Düsseldorf University Hospital (UKD). Emergency services from the Düsseldorf fire department took over the person at the airport in Amsterdam.
After infections with the hantavirus on the “Hondius” there were also three deaths – an elderly Dutch couple and a German woman died. Three people were taken off the ship under medical supervision, the WHO and the Dutch Foreign Ministry said.
According to the Dutch Foreign Ministry, one of them was a 65-year-old German woman. She will now be examined in Düsseldorf. The person’s condition is currently stable and he is not showing any symptoms of infection, the Düsseldorf fire department said after taking over the contact person at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
“This is a contact person without confirmed evidence of a hantavirus infection,” the clinic had announced at noon before arrival. The person from Germany was admitted as a precautionary measure for medical clarification. No further information was provided. An initial clinical assessment and infectiological examinations are carried out in the infection ward.
The search for the origin
The search for patient zero is currently underway. Investigations are underway in Argentina, from where the cruise ship left.
According to the AP news agency, a Dutch couple became infected with the virus while on a bird tour in the city of Ushuaia in southern Argentina. There are also reports that the couple became infected while visiting a landfill. However, there is no official confirmation.
Specialized clinic in Tenerife
After days of uncertainty, there is at least a clear perspective for the almost 150 people on board the cruise ship. Spain gave the Dutch-flagged ship permission to call at a port in the Canary Islands, namely Tenerife.
There is a clinic specializing in epidemics on the holiday island. The crew and passengers will be examined there and, if necessary, given medical care. They could later return to their respective home countries.
The “Hondius” set off from Cape Verde on Wednesday evening towards the Canary Islands. The route is expected to take three to four days, said operator Oceanwide Expeditions. In Cape Verde, three additional medically trained people got on board to ensure optimal health care for the route.
(ome with material from the sda)