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.