Hantavirus outbreak reported on cruise ship and separate case in Colorado

The cruise ship MV Hondius arrived in Rotterdam on May 18, 2026, following a hantavirus outbreak that affected passengers and crew from 23 countries. The ship reported a severe respiratory illness to the World Health Organization on May 2, resulting in three confirmed deaths, including a Dutch couple and a German national. After being denied entry at Cape Verde, the passengers were evacuated in the Canary Islands under strict protocols, while 23 crew members and two medical staff remained on board to sail to the Netherlands for decontamination. Separately, health officials in Douglas County, Colorado, confirmed a hantavirus-related death in an adult, which authorities explicitly stated is unrelated to the cruise ship outbreak. The Colorado case involved a strain commonly found in the region during this time of year. Meanwhile, international quarantine measures remain in effect for those exposed during the cruise. Global health agencies are coordinating containment efforts, with the crew members in Rotterdam facing a 42-day quarantine period.