MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak: Day-by-Day Timeline
From a quiet anchorage off Praia to a multi-country WHO alert: every confirmed milestone in the MV Hondius Andes virus cluster, with primary sources.
How a routine repositioning voyage became a multi-country outbreak
The MV Hondius left Ushuaia, Argentina on 20 March 2026 for a repositioning voyage to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde, carrying 147 passengers and crew from 23 countries (Africa CDC, 5 May 2026).
Timeline of confirmed events
- 20 March 2026 — Hondius departs Ushuaia for the Canary Islands via Cape Verde.
- 24 April 2026 — At least 29 passengers of 12 nationalities disembark during a port call, later flagged as a contact-tracing priority by ECDC (ECDC outbreak page).
- 2 May 2026 — A cluster of severe respiratory illness aboard the ship is reported to WHO; 7 cases identified, 3 deaths, 1 critically ill, 3 with mild symptoms (WHO DON, 5 May 2026).
- 4 May 2026 — Cape Verde refuses entry; ship anchors off Praia. Spain's Health Ministry confirms 14 Spaniards aboard (EFE; Diario de Alicante).
- 5 May 2026 — WHO publishes its first Disease Outbreak News on the cluster. Two cases laboratory-confirmed for hantavirus. Africa CDC issues a coordinating statement (Africa CDC).
- 6 May 2026 — ECDC publishes its rapid risk assessment; pathogen identified as Andes virus (ANDV), the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission (ECDC RRA).
- 7 May 2026 — WHO reiterates support to affected member states; CDC US activates its response and works with the State Department to repatriate Americans aboard (WHO 7 May statement; CDC situation summary).
- 8 May 2026 — Public Health Agency of Canada publishes its rapid risk assessment (PHAC RRA). Hondius departs Cape Verde anchorage; Spain announces the ship will be allowed to dock in the Canary Islands (Forbes ES; Africanews).
What is still unresolved
The original infection source aboard the ship has not been publicly identified. ECDC notes ongoing investigation into whether the index case was a passenger who boarded with an active infection or a crew member exposed earlier in the voyage. Updates will be added here as primary sources publish.
Sources: WHO Disease Outbreak News, ECDC, Africa CDC, US CDC, Public Health Agency of Canada, Oceanwide Expeditions press releases, EFE, AFP, Reuters.
