The World Health Organization said a hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius is not the start of a pandemic.
This assessment aims to calm public fears by distinguishing the current outbreak from the rapid, global spread seen during the COVID-19 crisis. Because hantavirus behaves differently than respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2, health officials believe the risk of a widespread international event is low.
The outbreak began in early April 2026 [3] while the vessel was offshore at Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean [1]. During a briefing held Thursday, May 7, 2026 [2], a WHO epidemiologist addressed the nature of the virus. "This is not SARS-CoV-2," the epidemiologist said [4].
Health officials noted that the specific hantavirus strain involved requires prolonged or intimate contact to spread between people [5]. This characteristic makes the virus far less contagious than the virus that caused COVID-19, reducing the likelihood of a massive surge in cases [6].
Two British nationals were medically evacuated from the ship due to the virus [1]. A WHO spokesperson said the health of these two passengers is improving [7].
While some reports suggest more infections could emerge, other health assessments maintain that the strain is unlikely to spread widely due to its transmission requirements [5, 8]. The WHO continues to monitor the situation as the passengers recover and the ship's health status is evaluated.
“"This is not SARS-CoV-2."”
The WHO's rapid clarification serves to prevent a global panic by highlighting the biological differences between hantaviruses and highly contagious respiratory viruses. By emphasizing that this strain requires close, prolonged contact, the organization is signaling that the outbreak is a contained medical event rather than a systemic public health threat.
