23 Passengers From Hantavirus-Infected Ship Returned Home To ‘All Corners’ Of The World, Including The U.S.
Published 14 hours ago
on May 6, 2026
By Cullen McCue
Health officials have confirmed that passengers from the Dutch-flagged hantavirus-infected cruise ship have returned to multiple countries, including the United States, after disembarking before the full extent of the outbreak was known.
The MV Hondius, a Dutch-operated expedition vessel, experienced an outbreak that has resulted in three deaths and at least eight illnesses among passengers and crew as of Wednesday, May 6. At least 23 passengers left the ship during a stop at Saint Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic, on April 23 and traveled home without immediate notification of potential exposure.
The returned passengers originated from several nations and dispersed to various locations. One traveler from Australia returned to Australia, another from Taiwan to Taiwan, several from the Netherlands to homes in that country, one from England to England, and individuals from the United States to locations across North America, according to a report from the New York Post.
A Swiss man who disembarked with his wife returned to Switzerland and later tested positive for hantavirus. He was initially taken to a Zurich hospital, where he tested negative, but authorities confirmed a positive result on Wednesday morning.
The virus can remain dormant for up to eight weeks, and officials continue to monitor potential exposures. The American passengers who returned home are among the group of 23 potentially exposed individuals, though specific health statuses for each U.S. returnee have not been publicly detailed beyond their inclusion in contact-tracing efforts.
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