🟢 WHO DECLARES OUTBREAK OVER — 2 July 2026 CONCLUDED
The World Health Organization officially declared the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak over on 2 July 2026, after the last close contact of a confirmed case completed a six-week quarantine, tested negative and returned home. No new cases have been linked to the outbreak since 25 May, and no new death since 2 May. Final tally: 13 cases (12 confirmed · 1 probable) · 3 deaths (CFR ~23%) across 9 countries with confirmed cases. WHO stresses the epidemic risk remains LOW — the Andes virus only spreads through prolonged close contact. Source: WHO / ECDC / CDC / Forbes (2 Jul 2026).
🛡️ WHO / ECDC Assessment — Aug 13, 2026 Global Risk: LOW Outbreak officially over (WHO, 2 Jul). Final figures: WHO DON611 (the dedicated closing report, published 2 Jul, superseding DON604 as WHO's latest item) and the ECDC surveillance update put the total at 13 cases — 12 confirmed · 1 probable · 3 deaths. 0 new cases since 25 May, 0 new deaths since 2 May. All monitoring/quarantine milestones passed with no further cases: U.S. 42-day monitoring of exposed citizens closed 21 Jun — no U.S. hantavirus cases occurred as a result of the outbreak (CDC) — passenger/crew quarantine ended 18 Jun (all retested negative, RIVM), Tenerife-evacuee incubation window closed 21 Jun, and the final close contact completed six-week quarantine and tested negative ahead of the 2 Jul declaration. DON611: "This outbreak no longer poses a public health risk and no further related transmission is expected." Event closed
📊 13 cases · 12 confirmed · 1 probable (per WHO DON611, 2 Jul 2026; ECDC surveillance update) 💀 3 deaths · CFR ~23% 🌍 9 countries with confirmed cases · 12 countries with hospitalized/quarantined passengers · 653 contacts (317 high-risk + 336 low-risk, all follow-up complete) across 33 countries and overseas territories (WHO DON611) 🇬🇧 Case 8 (Tristan da Cunha) — PCR-confirmed 10 Jun, mild/stable 🇨🇦 Case 13 (Canada) — Yukon resident in BC, mild 🇫🇷 Case 11 (France) critical 🚢 MV Hondius CLEARED to return to service after Rotterdam sanitation — departed ~Jun 6 bound for Svalbard (Dutch health authority) 🇺🇸 US 42-day monitoring period ended Jun 6 — no cases detected, no further follow-up needed (CDC) 🧪 Passenger/crew 42-day quarantine ended Jun 18 — all retested NEGATIVE for Andes virus (RIVM); Tenerife-evacuee incubation window closed Jun 21 with no new cases
WHO Dr Tedros: "This is not another COVID." · Full details in Timeline tab
🚢 MV Hondius · 149 aboard · 23 nationalities
Oceanwide Expeditions · Docked Rotterdam May 18 · EWS Group disinfection under RIVM complete · Cleared by Dutch Municipal Health Service (GGD) to return to service · Departed Rotterdam ~Jun 6 bound for Svalbard
Ushuaia 🇦🇷 Origin
St. Helena Case 2 ashore
Cape Verde Anchored
Tenerife 🇪🇸 Evacuated ✅
Rotterdam ✅ 🇳🇱 Cleared · departed

Total Cases

13

12 confirmed · 1 probable

Deaths

3

CFR ~23% · NL + DE

ICU / Severe

2

South Africa · France (critical)

Mild / Active

8

UK · CH · USA · ES · CA · TdC · 1 retested −

Countries w/ Cases

10

NL·ZA·DE·CH·UK·US·FR·ES·CA·SHN

Under Monitoring

41+

US alone · 12+ countries total

📰 Latest News & Sources
Outbreak stays closed — forty-two days post-declaration (13 Aug 2026): No new cases or deaths in the forty-two days since WHO declared the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak over (2 Jul). Fresh 13 Aug searches of WHO, ECDC and CDC surface no revision to the tally and no new related cases anywhere; the 2 July 'outbreak over' status stands. Figures remain final at 13 cases (12 confirmed · 1 probable) and 3 deaths (CFR ~23%) across 9 countries with confirmed cases. WHO's closing report DON611 (2 Jul) — the fifth and final Disease Outbreak News posting on this event — and the ECDC surveillance update stand as the archival record; the ECDC page is no longer being regularly updated. DON611 reiterates that 'this outbreak no longer poses a public health risk and no further related transmission is expected.' Of the ten hospitalised cases, eight recovered and were discharged. CDC reaffirms no cases of hantavirus disease occurred in the United States as a result of the outbreak — all 18 repatriated US passengers completed monitoring at the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska with no illness detected and no further follow-up required — and ECDC assesses the likelihood of additional cases as very low. All passengers, crew and 653 traced contacts across 33 countries and territories completed follow-up with no onward transmission. The MV Hondius continues normal Svalbard operations after its 29–30 May Rotterdam decontamination; WHO/ECDC global risk remains LOW WHO / ECDC / CDC Aug 13, 2026
Outbreak stays closed — forty-one days post-declaration (12 Aug 2026): No new cases or deaths in the forty-one days since WHO declared the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak over (2 Jul). Fresh 12 Aug searches of WHO, ECDC and CDC surface no revision to the tally and no new related cases anywhere; the 2 July 'outbreak over' status stands. Figures remain final at 13 cases (12 confirmed · 1 probable) and 3 deaths (CFR ~23%) across 9 countries with confirmed cases. WHO's closing report DON611 (2 Jul) — the fifth and final Disease Outbreak News posting on this event — and the ECDC surveillance update stand as the archival record; the ECDC page is no longer being regularly updated. DON611 reiterates that 'this outbreak no longer poses a public health risk and no further related transmission is expected.' Of the ten hospitalised cases, eight recovered and were discharged. CDC reaffirms no cases of hantavirus disease occurred in the United States as a result of the outbreak — all 18 repatriated US passengers completed monitoring at the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska with no illness detected and no further follow-up required — and ECDC assesses the likelihood of additional cases as very low. All passengers, crew and 653 traced contacts across 33 countries and territories completed follow-up with no onward transmission. The MV Hondius continues normal Svalbard operations after its 29–30 May Rotterdam decontamination; WHO/ECDC global risk remains LOW WHO / ECDC / CDC Aug 12, 2026
Outbreak stays closed — forty days post-declaration (11 Aug 2026): No new cases or deaths in the forty days since WHO declared the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak over (2 Jul). Fresh 11 Aug searches of WHO, ECDC and CDC surface no revision to the tally and no new related cases anywhere; the 2 July 'outbreak over' status stands. Figures remain final at 13 cases (12 confirmed · 1 probable) and 3 deaths (CFR ~23%) across 9 countries with confirmed cases. WHO's closing report DON611 (2 Jul) — the fifth and final Disease Outbreak News posting on this event — and the ECDC surveillance update stand as the archival record; the ECDC page is no longer being regularly updated. DON611 reiterates that 'this outbreak no longer poses a public health risk and no further related transmission is expected.' Of the ten hospitalised cases, eight recovered and were discharged. CDC reaffirms no cases of hantavirus disease occurred in the United States as a result of the outbreak — all 18 repatriated US passengers completed monitoring at the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska with no illness detected and no further follow-up required — and ECDC assesses the likelihood of additional cases as very low. All passengers, crew and 653 traced contacts across 33 countries and territories completed follow-up with no onward transmission. The MV Hondius continues normal Svalbard operations after its 29–30 May Rotterdam decontamination; WHO/ECDC global risk remains LOW WHO / ECDC / CDC Aug 11, 2026
Outbreak stays closed — thirty-nine days post-declaration (10 Aug 2026): No new cases or deaths in the thirty-nine days since WHO declared the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak over (2 Jul). Fresh 10 Aug searches of WHO, ECDC and CDC surface no revision to the tally and no new related cases anywhere; the 2 July 'outbreak over' status stands. Figures remain final at 13 cases (12 confirmed · 1 probable) and 3 deaths (CFR ~23%) across 9 countries with confirmed cases. WHO's closing report DON611 (2 Jul) — the fifth and final Disease Outbreak News posting on this event — and the ECDC surveillance update stand as the archival record; the ECDC page is no longer being regularly updated. DON611 reiterates that 'this outbreak no longer poses a public health risk and no further related transmission is expected.' Of the ten hospitalised cases, eight recovered and were discharged. CDC reaffirms no cases of hantavirus disease occurred in the United States as a result of the outbreak — all 18 repatriated US passengers completed monitoring at the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska with no illness detected and no further follow-up required — and ECDC assesses the likelihood of additional cases as very low. All passengers, crew and 653 traced contacts across 33 countries and territories completed follow-up with no onward transmission. The MV Hondius continues normal Svalbard operations after its 29–30 May Rotterdam decontamination; WHO/ECDC global risk remains LOW WHO / ECDC / CDC Aug 10, 2026
Outbreak stays closed — thirty-seven days post-declaration (8 Aug 2026): No new cases or deaths in the thirty-seven days since WHO declared the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak over (2 Jul). Fresh 8 Aug searches of WHO, ECDC and CDC surface no revision to the tally and no new related cases anywhere; the 2 July 'outbreak over' status stands. Figures remain final at 13 cases (12 confirmed · 1 probable) and 3 deaths (CFR ~23%) across 9 countries with confirmed cases. WHO's closing report DON611 (2 Jul) — the fifth and final Disease Outbreak News posting on this event — and the ECDC surveillance update stand as the archival record; the ECDC page is no longer being regularly updated. DON611 reiterates that 'this outbreak no longer poses a public health risk and no further related transmission is expected.' Of the ten hospitalised cases, eight recovered and were discharged. CDC reaffirms no cases of hantavirus disease occurred in the United States as a result of the outbreak — all 18 repatriated US passengers completed monitoring at the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska with no illness detected and no further follow-up required — and ECDC assesses the likelihood of additional cases as very low. All passengers, crew and 653 traced contacts across 33 countries and territories completed follow-up with no onward transmission. The MV Hondius continues normal Svalbard operations; WHO/ECDC global risk remains LOW WHO / ECDC / CDC Aug 8, 2026
Outbreak stays closed — thirty-six days post-declaration (7 Aug 2026): No new cases or deaths in the thirty-six days since WHO declared the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak over (2 Jul). Fresh 7 Aug searches of WHO, ECDC and CDC surface no revision to the tally and no new related cases anywhere; the 2 July 'outbreak over' status stands. Figures remain final at 13 cases (12 confirmed · 1 probable) and 3 deaths (CFR ~23%) across 9 countries with confirmed cases. WHO's closing report DON611 (2 Jul) — the fifth and final Disease Outbreak News posting on this event — and the ECDC surveillance update stand as the archival record; the ECDC page is no longer being regularly updated. DON611 reiterates that 'this outbreak no longer poses a public health risk and no further related transmission is expected.' Of the ten hospitalised cases, eight recovered and were discharged. CDC reaffirms no cases of hantavirus disease occurred in the United States as a result of the outbreak, with all potentially exposed US citizens having completed their 42-day monitoring by 21 Jun, and ECDC assesses the likelihood of additional cases as very low. All passengers, crew and 653 traced contacts across 33 countries and territories completed follow-up with no onward transmission. The MV Hondius continues normal Svalbard operations; WHO/ECDC global risk remains LOW WHO / ECDC / CDC Aug 7, 2026
Outbreak stays closed — thirty-five days post-declaration (6 Aug 2026): No new cases or deaths in the thirty-five days since WHO declared the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak over (2 Jul). Fresh 6 Aug searches of WHO, ECDC and CDC surface no revision to the tally and no new related cases anywhere; the 2 July 'outbreak over' status stands. Figures remain final at 13 cases (12 confirmed · 1 probable) and 3 deaths (CFR ~23%) across 9 countries with confirmed cases. WHO's closing report DON611 (2 Jul) — the fifth and final Disease Outbreak News posting on this event — and the ECDC surveillance update stand as the archival record; the ECDC page is no longer being regularly updated. DON611 reiterates that 'this outbreak no longer poses a public health risk and no further related transmission is expected.' Of the ten hospitalised cases, eight recovered and were discharged. CDC reaffirms no cases of hantavirus disease occurred in the United States as a result of the outbreak, with all potentially exposed US citizens having completed their 42-day monitoring by 21 Jun, and ECDC assesses the likelihood of additional cases as very low. All passengers, crew and 653 traced contacts across 33 countries and territories completed follow-up with no onward transmission. The MV Hondius continues normal Svalbard operations; WHO/ECDC global risk remains LOW WHO / ECDC / CDC Aug 6, 2026
Outbreak stays closed — thirty-four days post-declaration (5 Aug 2026): No new cases or deaths in the thirty-four days since WHO declared the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak over (2 Jul). Fresh 5 Aug searches of WHO, ECDC and CDC surface no revision to the tally and no new related cases anywhere; the 2 July 'outbreak over' status stands. Figures remain final at 13 cases (12 confirmed · 1 probable) and 3 deaths (CFR ~23%) across 9 countries with confirmed cases. WHO's closing report DON611 (2 Jul) — the fifth and final Disease Outbreak News posting on this event — and the ECDC surveillance update stand as the archival record; the ECDC page is no longer being regularly updated. DON611 reiterates that 'this outbreak no longer poses a public health risk and no further related transmission is expected.' Of the ten hospitalised cases, eight recovered and were discharged. CDC reaffirms no cases of hantavirus disease occurred in the United States as a result of the outbreak, with all potentially exposed US citizens having completed their 42-day monitoring by 21 Jun, and ECDC assesses the likelihood of additional cases as very low. All passengers, crew and 653 traced contacts across 33 countries and territories completed follow-up with no onward transmission. The MV Hondius continues normal Svalbard operations; WHO/ECDC global risk remains LOW WHO / ECDC / CDC Aug 5, 2026
ℹ️ About Andes Hantavirus
🦠 Strain

Andes hantavirus — the only known hantavirus strain with documented limited human-to-human transmission.

🐭 Source

Rodent-borne. Index case likely exposed during a birding tour to a landfill near Ushuaia, Argentina before boarding.

😷 Symptoms

Fever → GI symptoms → pneumonia → ARDS → shock. Incubation period: 1–8 weeks.

🌍 WHO Risk

Global public health risk: LOW. No evidence of wider community spread.

💊 Treatment

No approved antiviral treatment. Care is supportive — ICU ventilation for severe HPS cases.

Sources: WHO DON599 · ECDC · CDC · Wikipedia
Not a substitute for official health guidance.