Human-to-human hantavirus spread confirmed on cruise ship
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In April 2026, an outbreak of severe respiratory infections, presenting as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), was detected aboard the cruise ship M/V Hondius, which had left Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1. Analyses conducted by the UNIGE/HUG Geneva Center for Emerging Viral Diseases, a WHO Collaborating Center, identified the virus as belonging to the Andes strain. In total, 13 passengers were affected, three of whom died.
Two questions remained unanswered: how did the virus spread on board, and where did the infection originate? "Hantaviruses are usually transmitted by inhaling dust contaminated with the secretions of wild rodents. The Andes virus, however, has the rare ability to also pass directly from person to person through close, prolonged contact," explains Isabella Eckerle, director of the UNIGE/HUG Center, which also hosts the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reference lab for emerging viral diseases.
Tracing the virus's path
To gain further insights, an international collaboration in which Eckerle is actively involved carried out an epidemiological and genetic investigation. The scientists initially observed that the first case was reported on April 3, shortly after departure from Ushuaia.
By contrast, case "13" developed symptoms on May 31, 2026, 60 days after leaving Argentina. This far exceeds the maximum known incubation period for initial infection from rodents, estimated at six weeks. This part of the research further documented close and prolonged contact between this patient and another confirmed case, case "10."
The team then sequenced the virus genome, determining the order of the elements that make up its genetic material, in 10 of the 13 affected individuals. They found that the genetic material was highly similar across all individuals.
The work is published in the journal Science.
"The sequence of symptom onset, the genomic data and the patterns of close contact all point to an initial introduction of the virus from a rodent to a passenger, followed by secondary person-to-person transmission on board the ship," says Eckerle, citing the study's conclusions.
A known virus
The analysis also shows that the virus from the cruise ship is genetically very close to natural strains of the Andes virus circulating in Argentine Patagonia. This rules out rumors of an artificial or reassorted virus, or one that had undergone abnormal mutations. The international consortium also published a second article in Science, tracing the historical lineage of the virus strain in Patagonia.
This work is the result of extensive international collaboration, particularly through the independent comparison of results between laboratories in several countries (France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada, Senegal and South Africa). This strengthened the robustness and reliability of the genomic analyses used to trace the transmission pathway on board.
"This extraordinary international effort shows what we can achieve by working together, across institutions and borders. It underlines how essential it is to invest in national capacities and international scientific networks before a crisis occurs," concludes Eckerle.
Publication details
Bas B. Oude Munnink et al., Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome outbreak linked to cruise ship travel in April–May 2026, Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.aej1376
Carla M. Bellomo et al., Long-term local circulation of an Andes virus lineage in northern Patagonia is linked to the M/V Hondius outbreak, Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.aej1679
Journal information: Science
Key medical concepts
Andes HantavirusesHantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
Clinical categories
Infectious diseasesLaboratory medicine Provided by University of Geneva Who's behind this story?
Sadie Harley
BSc Life Sciences & Ecology. Microbiology lab background with pharmaceutical news experience in oil, gas, and renewable industries. Full profile →
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Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language. Full profile →
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