Andes Hantavirus Outbreak: WHO Issues Isolation Guidance as Cases Span 23 Nations

An international panel of WHO experts convened to determine when Andes hantavirus patients can safely leave isolation amid a 13-case outbreak spanning 23 countries. The MV Hondius cruise ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, with 114 passengers and 61 crew from 23 countries on an Antarctic itinerary. The first patient showed symptoms on April 6 and died aboard April 11; by May 2 a British traveler tested positive and confirmed cases followed on May 4–5. By May 27, WHO counted 13 cases (11 confirmed, 2 probable) and three deaths, with more than 600 contacts under tracing. Andes virus is unique in that it can transmit between people, complicating IPC guidance.