Two passengers who disembarked from the cruise ship MV Hondius tested positive for the Hunter virus, US and French authorities said Sunday.
The confirmation of these cases raises concerns about a potential cluster infection on a high-density vessel, which could complicate containment efforts across international borders.
Health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the French government said the findings on May 10, 2026 [1]. The reports follow the arrival of the MV Hondius off the coast of Tenerife in the Canary Islands on that same date [4].
Of the two confirmed cases, one passenger tested positive via a PCR test [2]. The second passenger exhibited mild symptoms [3]. Both individuals had already left the vessel before the results were finalized.
The investigation has extended to other passengers who traveled after leaving the ship. One Japanese passenger was transferred to the United Kingdom and underwent testing at a hospital in north-west England [1]. This test was conducted within 72 hours of the passenger's arrival in the UK [5].
Authorities are monitoring the situation to determine if further passengers were exposed during the voyage. The suspected cluster infection prompted the coordinated response between the U.S., France, and other regional health bodies to track the spread of the virus.
“Two passengers who disembarked from the cruise ship MV Hondius tested positive for the Hunter virus”
The detection of the Hunter virus in a cruise ship setting highlights the vulnerability of international tourism to zoonotic or infectious outbreaks. Because passengers disembark in different countries—ranging from Spain to the UK—the incident requires high-level diplomatic and medical coordination to prevent localized outbreaks in multiple sovereign territories.
