The WHO raises the number of suspected hantavirus cases on an international cruise ship to seven

The World Health Organization (WHO) has focused its attention on a cruise ship after detecting several 
severe cases of respiratory illness among its passengers. The alert was issued on May 2, 2026, when it was reported that an affected group was traveling on board. The ship carries 147 passengers and crew, and 
two days later , the situation had already resulted in seven identified cases . Despite this, the WHO classifies the 
risk as “low.”

The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has focused its attention on a cruise ship after detecting several 
severe cases of respiratory illness among its passengers. The alert was issued on May 2, 2026, when it was reported that an affected group was traveling on board. The ship carries 147 passengers and crew, and two days later , the situation had already resulted in seven identified cases . Despite this, the WHO classifies the risk as “low.”

According to information from the World Health Organization, the onset of the disease occurred between April 6 and 28, 2026, and is characterized by fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rapid progression to pneumonia , acute respiratory distress syndrome, and shock.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE UNDERWAY

Although investigations are ongoing, they add, “the outbreak is being managed through a coordinated international response and includes in-depth investigations, isolation and care of cases, medical evacuation, and laboratory investigations.” Among the countries working on this international response are Spain , Cape Verde, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Human hantavirus infection is primarily acquired through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. It is a rare but serious disease, as it can be fatal, the WHO warned. “Although uncommon, limited human-to-human transmission has been reported in previous outbreaks of Andes virus (a specific species of hantavirus). Currently, the WHO assesses the risk to the global population from this event as low and will continue to monitor the epidemiological situation and update the risk assessment,” the organization stated.