The international community is on alert as the rare and deadly outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. With mortality rates as high as 40% and authorities tracking passengers around the world, the Andes strain is causing consternation as it is the only one that .
The fatal mistake in Ushuaia and the “export” of the virus
It all started on March 20 in Ushuaia, the southernmost city on the planet. A couple of Dutch tourists, during a bird watching excursion, visited a landfill site. Researchers believe that’s where they came into contact with infected rodents.
When the cruise ship MV Hondius set sail on April 1 for Antarctica with 147 people on board, the virus was already “stowaway” on board. The 70-year-old Dutchman developed symptoms on April 6 and ended up at sea five days later. Tragedy continued when his wife died in Johannesburg after a return flight, while a German passenger became the third victim on May 2.
Andes Strain: Why WHO Fears Rare Mutation
What differentiates this crisis from other outbreaks of hadavirus is the confirmation by the WHO that it is the Andes variant. While most handaviruses are “dead-end infections” (animal-to-human), the Andean strain is the only one known to be transmitted between humans through close contact.
REUTERS/Danilson Sequeira
“It’s very different from Covid or the flu, very close physical contact is required, but the severity of the disease is extreme,” experts warn, with mortality rates as high as 40%.
Argentina under the microscope: Climate change and rodents
The international community is now turning its attention to Argentina, which has the highest incidence of the disease in Latin America. As of June 2025, infections in the country doubled to 101.
The Argentine Health Ministry on Tuesday reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025.
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Scientists link the outbreak to environmental deregulation:
- Tropicalization: Argentina is becoming warmer, favoring the survival of rodents.
- Extremes: Alternations of drought and heavy rains explode the populations of virus carriers.
Diplomatic thriller and 45-day quarantine
The MV Hondius experienced an international blockade, with Cape Verde refusing its berth. Finally, Spain relented, allowing the ship to dock in Tenerife under draconian security measures.
The situation remains critical:
- Repatriation: Foreign nationals (British, American, etc.) will be transported to their countries by special flights.
- Isolation: Spanish passengers will be taken to a military hospital in Madrid.
- Tracing: Authorities are looking for 23 passengers who disembarked earlier in St Helena and have already traveled to Switzerland, the US and Taiwan.
With the incubation period reaching 8 weeks, anxiety over the international spread of the virus will last until at least the summer, reminding many of the dark days of the pandemic.
