The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship over after the last identified contact of an exposed person completed quarantine and tested negative for the virus.
Outbreak Details
The outbreak, which infected 13 people and killed three, involved the Andes virus, a rare hantavirus strain that typically circulates in Argentina and Chile. The cruise ship, MV Hondius, set off from Argentina on 1 April.
An aerial photo shows people in protective clothing on board the Hondius cruise ship on 18 May 2026.
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WHO Declaration
The declaration marks the end of the outbreak, with no further cases expected. The WHO praised the rapid response and quarantine measures that contained the virus.
