OutbreakWatch — Live hantavirus trackerGeolocated news on the 2026 hantavirus outbreak (MV Hondius cluster). Refreshed every 4 hours from official sources.https://outbreakwatch.net/en-usWHO confirms five cases of hantavirus linked to cruise shiphttps://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-who-confirms-cases/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-who-confirms-cases/The World Health Organization on 7 May 2026 confirmed 5 hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius cluster. Director-General Tedros said the outbreak is 'not the next COVID' but warned cases may rise given the up-to-6-week incubation. WHO has deployed an expert on board and shipped 2,500 diagnostic kits to 5 countries.Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:00 GMTresponsehantavirusSwitzerlandHealth officials track dozens who left hantavirus-stricken ship after first fatalityhttps://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-st-helena-tracing/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-st-helena-tracing/30 passengers disembarked from the MV Hondius at the remote South Atlantic island of Saint Helena on April 24, 2026, days after the first fatality. Tracing now extends to USA, Singapore, Canada, France, UK, and Spain.Thu, 07 May 2026 16:30:00 GMTtracinghantavirusSaint HelenaWHO: hantavirus outbreak 'not the next COVID', but infections may risehttps://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-not-next-covid/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-not-next-covid/WHO leadership emphasized that the multi-country hantavirus cluster does not mark the start of a pandemic, while cautioning that the long incubation period (up to 6 weeks) means new cases linked to MV Hondius passengers may surface in coming weeks.Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:00 GMTmediahantavirusBelgiumFrom US to Singapore, countries race to track hantavirushttps://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-cnn-singapore-tracing/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-cnn-singapore-tracing/Coordinated tracing operation involves USA, Singapore, Canada, France, UK, and Spain. The MV Hondius is en route to the Canary Islands where final disembarkation and medical screening of 146 remaining passengers will occur.Thu, 07 May 2026 12:00:00 GMTtracinghantavirusSingaporeHantavirus, what it is and how it spreads: contagion and symptoms, is Italy at risk?https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-adnkronos-italy-faq/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-adnkronos-italy-faq/Adnkronos Q&A piece on the MV Hondius cluster, focused on Italian readership. Key takeaway: ECDC risk for general European population assessed as 'very low'.Thu, 07 May 2026 11:00:00 GMTmediahantavirusItalyWhat countries are linked to the hantavirus outbreak?https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-time-23-countries/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-time-23-countries/Time magazine details the 23 nationalities of MV Hondius passengers, including 17 Americans still aboard. Argentina is the source country (Andes endemic), Cape Verde is current ship location, and Spain is destination.Thu, 07 May 2026 11:00:00 GMTmediahantavirusCape VerdeECDC: Hantavirus-associated cluster on cruise ship — assessment and recommendationshttps://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-ecdc-assessment/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-ecdc-assessment/European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control assesses the risk for the general European population as 'very low'. Recommends enhanced surveillance for travelers returning from South America and contacts of confirmed cases.Thu, 07 May 2026 10:00:00 GMTresponsehantavirusSwedenHantavirus: what it is, how it spreads, and what it causeshttps://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-ansa-italia-hantavirus/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-ansa-italia-hantavirus/ANSA explainer in Italian on hantavirus: family of zoonotic viruses transmitted primarily by rodents, capable of causing pulmonary or hemorrhagic syndromes. Italian Ministry of Health reports no domestic cases.Thu, 07 May 2026 09:30:00 GMTmediahantavirusItalyAfrica CDC: Statement on Multi-Country Hantavirus Cluster Associated with Cruise Ship Travelhttps://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-africa-cdc/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-africa-cdc/Africa CDC coordinates response with affected African nations (Cape Verde, South Africa, Saint Helena) and supports diagnostic capacity in regional laboratories.Thu, 07 May 2026 08:00:00 GMTresponsehantavirusEthiopiaHantavirus, can it reach Italy? The actual risks and human-to-human transmissionhttps://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-leggo-arrives-italy/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-07-leggo-arrives-italy/Italian newspaper Leggo Q&A piece on hantavirus risk for Italy. ECDC assesses European risk as 'very low'. Ministry of Health has reinforced surveillance for travelers returning from South America.Thu, 07 May 2026 07:00:00 GMTmediahantavirusItalyWhat doctors know about how the Andes hantavirus spreadshttps://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-06-cnn-andes-explained/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-06-cnn-andes-explained/Andes virus is the only hantavirus species with documented limited person-to-person transmission, requiring close prolonged contact. CFR historically 30-40% in pulmonary syndrome cases.Wed, 06 May 2026 19:00:00 GMTsciencehantavirusUnited StatesNo drug for hantavirus — only intensive care in severe caseshttps://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-05-ansa-no-cure/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-05-ansa-no-cure/Italian infectious disease specialist Matteo Bassetti tells ANSA there is no specific antiviral for hantavirus. Treatment is supportive ICU care; early hospitalization improves survival.Tue, 05 May 2026 14:00:00 GMTsciencehantavirusItalyPolymarket 'Hantavirus pandemic 2026' spikes to 38% before retreathttps://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-04-polymarket-spike/https://outbreakwatch.net/news/2026-05-04-polymarket-spike/Prediction market briefly priced 38% probability of a hantavirus pandemic declaration by year-end 2026 before falling back to single digits as WHO issued reassuring framing. Total trading volume crossed $2.2M.Mon, 04 May 2026 15:00:00 GMTmediahantavirusUnited States