An American citizen and a French woman evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius have tested positive for hantavirus [1], [2].
The confirmed cases highlight the risks of the deadly outbreak on the vessel and the potential for the virus to spread across international borders as passengers return home.
The MV Hondius was moored in Spain’s Canary Islands when the outbreak occurred [2]. On Monday, May 10, 2026, officials said that one American passenger and one French passenger tested positive for the virus [2], [3], [4].
The French patient is currently receiving treatment at Bichat Hospital in Paris [2]. The American passenger was on a flight to Nebraska, U.S., as the repatriation process continued [2], [3].
In total, 94 passengers were evacuated from the ship [1]. These evacuees represented 19 different nationalities [1]. Among those evacuated, 17 were U.S. citizens [3]. Of those 17 Americans, only one has tested positive for the virus [3].
The hantavirus outbreak prompted the emergency evacuation and subsequent testing of passengers to prevent further transmission [2], [4]. The repatriation operation remains ongoing as health officials monitor the remaining evacuees for symptoms.
“An American citizen and a French woman evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius have tested positive for hantavirus”
The confirmation of hantavirus in passengers returning to the U.S. and France underscores the challenge of containing zoonotic outbreaks in the cruise industry. Because the virus can be transported via passengers across continents, international health coordination is required to ensure that infected individuals are isolated and treated in specialized facilities, such as Paris's Bichat Hospital, to prevent secondary domestic transmissions.
