The cruise ship industry is in a spotlight as public health authorities investigate how hantavirus, a rodent-based illness, is suspected in three cruise ship passenger deaths and infecting others.
Seven cases of hantavirus have been identified among the more than 140 passengers and crew on the MV Hondius ship that was in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the World Health Organization and cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions.
WHO said the current risk to the rest of the world is low, but it is continuing to monitor the situation and provide updates.
Hantavirus comes from contact with rodents — such as rats and mice — especially after exposure to their urine, droppings, and saliva, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The virus is linked to the February 2025 death of Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa.
There’s been one human case of hantavirus in Florida and it occurred in 1993 in Miami, according to the state Department of Health.
The CDC began surveillance in 1993 and says Florida has had three human cases in Florida between 1993 and 2023, where the individuals survived.
There have been 890 cases in the U.S. since surveillance began in 1993.
WHO said the current risk to the rest of the world is low, but it is continuing to monitor the situation on the cruise ship and provide updates.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rodent-borne virus that can cause a serious, and sometimes fatal, lung infection in humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People typically contract hantavirus from contact with rodent urine, droppings or saliva. It can also spread from person to person, though that is rare, per the Mayo Clinic.
What cruise ship has hantavirus?
The MV Hondius, a cruise ship run by the Netherlands-based expedition cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions, is experiencing a hantavirus cluster.
The ship departed from Argentina on April 1 and traveled across the Atlantic, making “multiple stops in remote and ecologically diverse regions” including mainland Antarctica, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena and Ascension Island, according to WHO.
The ship is currently moored off the coast of Cape Verde, an island nation off Africa’s west coast, WHO and Oceanwide Expeditions said.
WHO official Maria Van Kerkhove said during a May 5 news conference that the current plan is to medically evacuate two individuals with suspected infections who are still on board, then the ship will head to the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain.
“We’re working with Spanish authorities who will welcome the ship, have said that they will welcome the ship, to do a full investigation – a full epidemiologic investigation, full disinfection of the ship and of course, to assess the risk of the passengers that are actually on board,” Kerkhove said.
Who on the ship is infected?
Officials believe a husband and wife, Dutch nationals, were infected while they were off the cruise ship, engaging in wildlife expeditions.
Others with suspected infections may have come in contact with the virus on islands as well, Kerkhove said.
“However, we do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that’s happening among the really close contacts – the husband and wife, people who’ve shared cabins, etcetera,” Kerkhove said.
According to the WHO, seven cases of hantavirus, including two lab-confirmed and five suspected cases, have been identified among those on the ship. The agency said a total of 147 passengers and crew are on board.
The infections include three deaths, one critically ill person and three others reporting mild symptoms.
Taking a cruise soon? Here are tips
To avoid hantavirus on a cruise ship, passengers should focus on avoiding contact with rodents, their droppings, or nesting materials, according to the CDC.
If you spot signs of rodents, report it immediately to ship staff. Clean, well-maintained cabins, avoiding touching droppings with bare hands, and reporting any early respiratory symptoms to the medical center are key prevention steps
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before eating, as this is more effective than sanitizer for preventing illnesses/
Hantavirus symptoms
Symptoms typically begin two to three weeks after infection, and can include fever, chills, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea. In serious cases, it can cause issues with lung and heart function, per the Mayo Clinic.
Each hantavirus has one primary rodent that carries the disease. The most common hantavirus that causes HPS in the U.S. is spread by the deer mouse, according to the Florida health department.
People can contract hantavirus if they have contact with urine, feces or saliva of a rodent carrying the virus. This can occur when people:
USA TODAY national trending reporter Melina Khan contributed to this report.
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Liz Freeman is a health care reporter. Reach her by emailing lfreeman@naplesnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Cruise ship hantavirus outbreak sparks concern. What it means for SW Florida travelers
Reporting by Liz Freeman, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
