Which countries have been affected by the MV Hondius hantavirus cluster?
The MV Hondius hantavirus cluster (Andes virus, 2026) spans multiple countries across four continents. Countries with confirmed or suspected patients receiving treatment: Netherlands (two confirmed deaths; ship is Dutch-flagged), Germany (patient transferred by medical evacuation), Switzerland (patient hospitalized), South Africa (patient transferred by medical evacuation), and Saint Helena (30 passengers disembarked 24 April 2026). Countries with active contact-tracing operations for passengers or crew who traveled onward: United States (17 American nationals were aboard), United Kingdom, France, Spain (final port call scheduled Las Palmas, Canary Islands, approximately 11 May 2026), Canada, Singapore. Countries involved in the index case's pre-embarkation travel (Andes virus exposure corridor): Argentina (Ushuaia departure port; index case traveled through southern Argentina for four months), Chile, Uruguay. WHO Disease Outbreak News DON599 covers 23 nationalities aboard. ECDC rates the risk to EU/EEA general public as 'very low'.