CARPHA Issues Hantavirus Watching Brief Update for Caribbean

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has issued an updated Watching Brief on Hantavirus as the outbreak associated with the MV Hondius cruise ship continues to be monitored internationally. While the regional risk to the Caribbean remains LOW, CARPHA urges Member States to maintain vigilance and strengthen surveillance measures.

The outbreak originated aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship that departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, 2026. The first case developed symptoms on April 6, just five days after departure. Tragically, the first passenger died on board on April 11. A second death occurred on April 26 in South Africa, involving the wife of the first victim, who had disembarked in St. Helena on April 24.

On May 2, the ship alerted the World Health Organisation (WHO), and by May 3, CARPHA issued a TalkWalker Alert. The virus was subsequently confirmed as Andes hantavirus on May 6 — the only hantavirus strain known to rarely permit limited human-to-human transmission. CARPHA immediately released a media release and launched its Hantavirus Watching Brief to keep Member States informed.

The Andes hantavirus is primarily transmitted through exposure to infected rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or aerosolised particles. Human-to-human transmission is rare and requires prolonged, close contact in enclosed spaces. There is no efficient airborne community spread, and the virus does not pose a pandemic threat.

CARPHA's risk assessment confirms that the Caribbean risk remains LOW for several key reasons. First, the principal wild rodent vector reservoirs associated with Andes hantavirus transmission are absent in the Caribbean region. Second, hantaviruses are highly host-specific and primarily transmitted by wild rodents, not common urban rats. Third, links to cyclic rodent populations and hantavirus disease surveillance have been limited in the Caribbean.

However, vigilance remains essential. The Caribbean is the world's leading cruise tourism destination with substantial movement of international travellers through ports of entry. The semi-enclosed environments of cruise vessels can facilitate the introduction and transmission of infectious diseases. CARPHA has activated its Incident Management-Emergency Response (IMT-ER) team and continues to monitor the situation closely.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), the clinical syndrome associated with this outbreak, initially presents with nonspecific flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle pain. These symptoms can rapidly progress to respiratory distress and cardiopulmonary failure. The incubation period is generally 1-6 weeks, and the case fatality rate ranges from 30-50% depending on the virus strain and clinical management.

There is no specific antiviral treatment currently available for hantavirus infection, and no licensed vaccine is widely available for prevention. Early supportive medical care significantly improves outcomes. Laboratory confirmation can be achieved through serological detection of hantavirus-specific IgM antibodies or detection of viral RNA by RT-PCR in acute-phase specimens.

CARPHA recommends that Member States continue enhanced surveillance of vessels entering ports, conduct routine vessel inspections, review Maritime Declaration of Health documentation, and strengthen rodent control and deratting procedures at ports and on vessels. Medical personnel should use appropriate infection prevention and control precautions, and suspected cases should be isolated and medically assessed promptly.

Source: Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) - Hantavirus Watching Brief Update #2, May 15, 2026