Loading data…Situation report on the Andes virus (hantavirus) outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship — overview, timeline, risk to the Czech Republic. Source: IMG CAS / UJEP.
What hantavirus is and why this outbreak is exceptional
Hantaviruses are RNA viruses transmitted by rodents (through the air and by contact with droppings). They cause two serious clinical syndromes:
- HFRS — haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (Europe, Asia)
- HPS/HCPS — hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (the Americas), 30–40% case fatality
Andes virus (Orthohantavirus andesense) is the only hantavirus with demonstrated human-to-human transmission — epidemiologically exceptional. All other hantaviruses are transmitted only from rodents.
The 2026 outbreak — MV Hondius cruise ship
In May 2026, Andes virus infections were identified among passengers and crew of the MV Hondius cruise ship, including limited human-to-human transmission on board. On 2 July 2026 WHO declared the outbreak over. Final WHO summary as of 2 July 2026 (DON611):
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Confirmed cases | 12 |
| Probable cases | 1 |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Contacts who completed follow-up | 650+ (317 high-risk, ~336 low-risk) |
| Countries/territories with contacts followed up | 33 |
| New cases since 25 May 2026 | 0 |
The incubation period of Andes virus is 4–42 days; a 42-day quarantine of contacts is recommended.
Genomics and phylogenetics
The S, M and L segments of the virus have been sequenced. The phylogeny places this strain among the Argentinian Andes virus strains — consistent with the ship’s route through South America.
Genomic data is available at: Pathoplexus · virological.org
Risk to the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is not an endemic area for Andes virus. The risk of an imported case is low, but it cannot be ruled out for travellers from Argentina or Chile. The domestic Puumala hantavirus (carried by the bank vole) causes HFRS with a mild course and does occur in the Czech Republic.
Where to find the details
- IMG CAS situation report — the final overview in Czech (last updated 10 Jul 2026)
- ECDC — Andes Virus Outbreak — EU epidemiological reporting
- WHO DON611 — Disease Outbreak News, final summary
- CDC — Hantavirus — US clinical guidance
- RIVM — Dutch reporting (the Netherlands had more MV Hondius cases)
Authors of the situation report
Jan Paces (ORCID) and Michaela Liegertová (ORCID) Institute of Molecular Genetics of the CAS (IMG) · Faculty of Science, UJEP · Military Health Institute
Source: titan.img.cas.cz/hantavirus · IMG CAS · Licence: freely available