# Andes hantavirus on cruise ship M/V Hondius: genomes of 10 of 13 cases point to person-to-person spread

- Published: 2026-11-14 00:06 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Medicine
- Tags: Andes virus, hantavirus outbreak, M/V Hondius, person-to-person transmission, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, viral genome sequencing, Argentine Patagonia, University of Geneva, Geneva University Hospitals, WHO Collaborating Centre
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-b46a29407d02601bea32a306_andes_hantavirus_on/

**A consortium including UNIGE and HUG reported in Science that the 2026 outbreak began with one infection from a rodent, then spread between passengers on board.**

![Andes hantavirus on cruise ship M/V Hondius: genomes of 10 of 13 cases point to person-to-person spread](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/5fafd99134239b38.jpg)
*Alexxx1979, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0*

An international consortium including the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) has published an analysis of the hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship M/V Hondius in April 2026, newswise.com reports. According to the authors, the outbreak began with a single infection acquired on land, followed by person-to-person transmission on board. The results appeared in Science. [1]

The ship left Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April. Analyses at the UNIGE/HUG Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, a WHO Collaborating Centre, identified the pathogen as the Andes virus. Thirteen passengers were affected by hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and three of them died. [1]

## Timeline of cases and transmission route

Hantaviruses are usually transmitted by inhaling dust contaminated with secretions of wild rodents. The Andes virus can also pass directly between people through close, prolonged contact, said Isabella Eckerle, Director of the Centre. [1]

The first case was reported on 3 April, shortly after departure. Case "13" developed symptoms on 31 May 2026, 60 days after the ship left Argentina. This exceeds the maximum known incubation period for infection from rodents, estimated at six weeks. The investigation also documented close and prolonged contact between this patient and another confirmed case, case "10". [1]

## Genome sequencing and origin of the strain

The team sequenced the viral genome in ten of the thirteen affected people and found the genetic material highly similar across all of them. According to the study's conclusions, the order of symptom onset, the genomic data and the contact patterns all point to one introduction of the virus from a rodent to a passenger, then secondary transmission among people on the ship. [1]

The virus from the ship is genetically very close to natural Andes virus strains circulating in Argentine Patagonia. The authors say this rules out rumours of an artificial or reassorted virus, or one with abnormal mutations. The consortium also published a second article in Science tracing the historical lineage of the strain in Patagonia. [1]

Laboratories in France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada, Senegal and South Africa compared their results independently, which the authors say strengthened the reliability of the genomic analyses used to trace the transmission pathway. Eckerle noted the importance of investing in national capacities and international scientific networks before a crisis occurs. [1]

## Sources

1. [newswise.com](https://www.newswise.com/articles/hantavirus-on-board-the-mv-hondius-human-to-human-transmission-confirmed)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-b46a29407d02601bea32a306_andes_hantavirus_on/