The expedition cruise ship MV Hondius docked in Tenerife, Canary Islands on May 10, 2026, after a hantavirus outbreak onboard prompted an emergency diversion for passenger evacuation. At least one passenger died in connection with the outbreak, and several others are reported to have shown symptoms of the rare rodent-borne viral disease. Spanish and international health authorities were on hand at the port to assist with the response.

Hantavirus is a potentially fatal illness transmitted primarily through contact with infected rodents or their droppings. It is not known to spread easily between humans, which has led health officials to characterize the risk of a broader public health emergency as limited. The CDC issued a statement indicating that the threat of a widespread outbreak remains low, though it continues to monitor the situation closely.

Investigators are working to determine how passengers aboard the MV Hondius were exposed to the virus. Early reporting indicates that the ship had recently made port calls in southern Argentina, including near Ushuaia — sometimes called the "city at the end of the world" — where at least one passenger is believed to have visited a site with rodent activity. That individual is reported to be the outbreak's first fatality.

Medical epidemiologists have noted that hantavirus cases tied to travel to Patagonia and southern South America are rare but not unprecedented, as the region is known to harbor rodent species that carry hantavirus strains. Officials emphasized that the vessel itself is not considered a vector, and that transmission likely occurred on land prior to embarkation or during shore excursions.

Passengers disembarking in Tenerife are being evaluated by health workers, and those who show symptoms or are deemed at risk are being referred for further medical assessment. Authorities have not issued any broader travel restrictions. Health experts advise travelers to avoid contact with wild rodents and their habitats, particularly in rural or semi-rural areas of South America.