A French woman and an American national who were evacuated from a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak have tested positive for the virus after returning home. The cases were confirmed on May 11, 2026, as countries rushed to repatriate passengers from the affected vessel.

The passengers were on board the MV Hondius, which has been at the centre of a deadly hantavirus cluster. The ship carried 147 people from 23 countries and had been on an expedition that included stops in Antarctica and several remote Atlantic islands. At least three people a Dutch couple and a German woman have already died from the outbreak.

The French woman, one of five French passengers repatriated to Paris, developed symptoms during the flight and tested positive. Her condition worsened overnight, according to French Health Minister Stephanie Rist. She is now under strict isolation in hospital.

In the United States, one of 17 American passengers flown to Nebraska tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus the only strain known to spread between humans but showed no symptoms. Another American passenger developed mild symptoms. All evacuees are being monitored closely at a biocontainment unit.

Health authorities say the risk to the general public remains low, but they are taking extra precautions because of the human-to-human transmission potential of the Andes strain. Spain, where the ship is moored in the Canary Islands, defended its evacuation process, which involved 94 people of 19 nationalities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported seven confirmed hantavirus cases linked to the ship, with two more suspected. The virus is usually spread through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, but the exact source on the ship is still under investigation.

This situation has created a complex international response, with many countries bringing their citizens home for testing and isolation. Passengers and crew who remain on the ship are also being closely monitored.

For many families and travellers, the incident is a worrying reminder of how quickly health risks can spread during international travel. Health officials across affected countries continue to provide updates as they work to contain the outbreak and support those impacted.