Hantavirus Cruise Passenger Was Initially Told Her Symptoms Were Just Anxiety — Now She’s in ‘Very Critical’ Condition

A French passenger aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship is currently in a critical condition after contracting hantavirus, a rare but serious viral infection. The woman’s health deterioration comes amid an outbreak that has already claimed three lives and left several others affected, raising alarm among health officials in both Spain and France.

The passenger was evacuated from the vessel while it was docked in Tenerife, Canary Islands, on May 10, 2026. Shortly after her removal from the ship, she was taken to a hospital in Paris, where her condition was described as “very critical” by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Javier Padilla Bernáldez, the Spanish health minister, revealed that authorities initially assessed her symptoms and deemed them inconsistent with hantavirus, attributing her condition to stress or anxiety following an episode of coughing prior to her evacuation.

However, following her transfer to a Parisian facility, the French woman tested positive for hantavirus, highlighting concerns about the accuracy of prior assessments. Bernáldez clarified that the passenger had not been downplaying her symptoms; rather, they had escalated once she was on the plane. The French Health Minister, Stéphanie Rist, announced that 22 individuals who came into contact with the patient have been traced and are being monitored.

The MV Hondius has been at the centre of multiple cases linked to the outbreak, with seven confirmed cases, three of which are laboratory-verified instances of hantavirus. Tragically, the deceased include a Dutch couple and a German national, while one individual is still receiving treatment in a South African hospital.

All remaining passengers aboard the cruise ship were evacuated on May 10. The ship, which had housed approximately 150 individuals, had already embarked on a significant journey since departing Argentina on April 1, with stops in various locations, including Antarctica and Cape Verde. Following evacuation, some passengers were sent to Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside for quarantine and testing, while others were directed to military facilities in Spain and the Netherlands.

Among those needing medical attention, 20 British nationals were taken to England for monitoring, while 14 Spanish passengers were discovered to require more thorough medical evaluation in Madrid. Twenty-six passengers were flown back to the Netherlands, where they will self-quarantine for six weeks, according to statements from the Dutch Foreign Ministry. The majority of individuals on board were from various countries, including India, Germany, Argentina, and the Philippines.

Of concern is the American contingent from the ship. Seventeen U.S. citizens were flown back and taken to the ASPR Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center in Nebraska, where they will be observed for 42 days. Initial reports indicated that one of the passengers exhibited mild symptoms, and another tested positive for the Andes virus, which is related to hantavirus.

As of May 11, only 27 individuals remain on the MV Hondius, comprising mainly crew members and medical staff, amidst fears that the outbreak may not be fully contained. The handling of the incident has sparked questions about the preparedness and response of health authorities in assessing the potential infectious diseases linked to travel.

With the situation evolving, health officials are urging caution and vigilance among those involved in the cruise industry as well as among travel groups. Effective contact tracing and isolation protocols will be crucial in managing and controlling the spread of hantavirus so that further infections can be prevented. Medical experts continue to monitor the developments closely, highlighting the need for thorough evaluations in scenarios involving emerging infectious diseases.