ABC News Daily What we know about the cruise ship hantavirus
May 13, 2026
Raina MacIntyre, epidemiologist and Professor of Global Biosecurity at UNSW, explains the hantavirus cruise incident and its likely origins. She discusses the Andes variant and its rare human-to-human risk. Transmission from rodents via aerosols and the cruise timeline are reviewed. Quarantine measures, chances of more cases, and why this virus is unlikely to spark a pandemic are also covered.
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Andes Hantavirus Spreads From Rodents And Can Transmit Between Humans
- Andes hantavirus is rodent-borne and can be airborne when contaminated rodent urine or feces are aerosolised and inhaled.
- The Andes variant is unique because it causes severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and is the only variant documented to transmit human-to-human.
Human To Human Airborne Spread Documented In Past Andes Outbreak
- Different clades of Andes virus exist; the 2018 Argentina outbreak showed airborne human-to-human spread.
- That 2018 clade caused 34 cases with clear evidence of aerosol transmission and significant mortality (11 deaths).
Dutch Couple Brought Hantavirus Onboard Cruise
- A Dutch couple likely brought the outbreak onto the cruise after traveling in Argentina and falling ill aboard the MV Hondius.
- The husband became unwell on April 6, later died on the ship, his wife then also fell ill and died, triggering wider passenger exposure.