India’s Union Health Ministry has activated precautionary surveillance measures following reports of hantavirus infections aboard the Dutch expedition cruise ship MV Hondius. According to information shared under the International Health Regulations (IHR) framework, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been notified of eight probable hantavirus cases on the vessel, five of which have been laboratory confirmed, along with three reported deaths. The incident was reported to the WHO in the first week of May.

Among the passengers, two Indian nationals remain onboard the MV Hondius. Both are currently asymptomatic and are being monitored according to international health protocols. The Health Ministry, working closely with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), WHO, and other international health authorities, continues to follow the evolving situation with vigilance.

The strain involved has been identified as the Andes hantavirus, which is noted for its limited capacity for human-to-human transmission, generally requiring close and prolonged contact to spread. WHO has assessed the public health risk as low, though it acknowledges that additional cases might emerge due to the virus’s relatively long incubation period.

In response to the situation, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) under IDSP and NCDC convened a high-level review meeting with senior officials from IDSP and India’s IHR National Focal Point (IHR-NFP) to evaluate preparedness and assess ongoing measures. The Union Health Ministry emphasizes that necessary precautions are being proactively implemented to safeguard the health of Indian citizens.

Dr. Naveen Kumar, director of the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Virology (NIV), has indicated that the reported cases appear isolated with no evidence of community transmission within India, asserting there is no immediate public health threat to the country. He explained that hantaviruses are primarily transmitted to humans through exposure to infected rodents or their excreta, often in enclosed environments such as ships, warehouses, or barns.

Meanwhile, Spanish authorities are preparing to receive the MV Hondius at the Canary Islands, specifically Tenerife, where over 140 passengers and crew members will undergo careful evacuation procedures at a secure, isolated area. Coordination is underway between Spain and the governments of countries with citizens aboard the ship. The United States plans to send a plane to repatriate its 17 nationals, and the United Kingdom will charter transport for nearly two dozen British passengers.

The WHO continues to coordinate the international response, focusing on enhancing diagnostic support, carrying out epidemiological assessments, and ensuring safe disembarkation and onward travel arrangements for all passengers and crew. The situation remains under close observation by global health authorities as investigations and health measures proceed.