Cruises are synonymous with sickness, but the recent hantavirus outbreak on a luxury ship bound for the Canary Islands has raised eyebrows. While the Andes virus, responsible for this scare, is less contagious than viruses like influenza or SARS-CoV-2, it can still spread through close contact and contaminated droplets.

Health officials have confirmed eight cases among passengers of the MV Hondius, with three deaths. The virus usually spreads via rodents, but in this cluster, transmission seems to have occurred between people. Health authorities are already tracing contacts from those who disembarked on St Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic.

Experts reassure that while hantavirus is concerning due to its high fatality rate of around 35%, it’s unlikely to cause a global crisis. Steven Bradfute, an immunologist at the University of New Mexico, explains: ‘Most spread has been with close contacts—people sharing a bed or food.’

The outbreak on this particular ship is unique because most large cruise ships don’t visit regions where hantaviruses are endemic. Nevertheless, the Swiss man who returned home and tested positive highlights that vigilance remains key.