A Spanish evacuee from the cruise ship MV Hondius has tested positive for hantavirus, Spain’s health ministry confirmed. The World Health Organization reported 11 total cases, including three deaths, with most linked to the Andes virus strain
Published Date – 12 May 2026, 04:15 PM
The Hague: A Spanish passenger evacuated from the cruise ship at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the virus, Spain’s health ministry announced Tuesday. The World Health Organisation said it has confirmed 11 cases, including three people from the cruise who died.
The passenger with the new confirmed case of hantavirus was in quarantine in a military hospital in Madrid. The passenger was quarantined in the same hospital as 13 other Spanish nationals evacuated Sunday, who all tested negative for the virus.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Madrid that all 11 confirmed cases are among passengers or crew of the MV Hondius cruise ship, including three people who died.
Nine of the 11 cases have been confirmed as the Andes virus.
