In April 2026, the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed Ushuaia, Argentina, with 147 passengers and crew bound for Antarctica. A deadly outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread from human to human, resulted in three deaths and at least six confirmed cases. The virus, typically rodent-borne, raised global health concerns, though the WHO assessed the broader risk as low. Passengers were evacuated in the Canary Islands in May, with repatriations to multiple countries, including the Netherlands, France, and Canada. One patient developed symptoms mid-flight to Paris; others were hospitalized but stabilized. The remaining skeleton crew arrived in Rotterdam under quarantine. While no evidence confirms Ushuaia as the infection site, local officials fear reputational damage to tourism. The incident highlights challenges in international health coordination, particularly as Argentina had recently exited the WHO, and underscores concerns about climate change potentially increasing zoonotic spillover risks.

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