ACTIVE OUTBREAK · MV Hondius cruise ship · Andes virus · 5 confirmed, 8 suspected, 3 deaths · See alerts ↗
Hantavirus Tracker Track outbreaks · Stay informed
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α Outbreak Intelligence · Public Health Signal

Track outbreaks worldwide.
Read the signal. Know what to do next.

A live, sourced field-report on hantavirus — pulling from CDC, WHO, PAHO, ProMED, and trusted news. Verified pins on a global map. Virus profiles. Prevention guidance. No account, no tracking, no health data — and your location only ever leaves your finger when you tap to use it.

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β Verified News Feed

Every headline carries a label.

News from CDC, WHO, PAHO, ProMED, Reuters, AP, BBC, Google News, GDELT and more. Each item shows you exactly how confirmed it is — so you can tell official alerts from media speculation.

[Official]
WHO · Disease Outbreak News · DON599

Hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship travel · Andes virus confirmed

WHO published DON599 confirming an Andes-virus cluster aboard the Dutch expedition vessel MV Hondius, which departed Ushuaia, Argentina on 1 April 2026. As of 7 May: 5 laboratory-confirmed cases, 8 suspected, 3 deaths. Ship en route to Tenerife. Risk to general population assessed as low. Andes virus is the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission.

Todaywho.int
[Official]
ECDC · Rapid risk assessment

Hantavirus-associated cluster of illness on a cruise ship

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control published an assessment for the MV Hondius cluster, recommending standard, contact and droplet precautions for suspected cases plus airborne precautions during aerosol-generating procedures. Contact tracing active across at least 9 countries.

1d agoecdc.europa.eu
[Official]
CDC · Health Alert Network

5 US states monitoring returning MV Hondius passengers

CDC working with state health departments in Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia to identify and monitor 7 returning passengers. Clinicians advised to consider hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in returning travelers with compatible illness.

1d agocdc.gov
[Confirmed]
Reuters · Health desk

Authorities scramble to limit hantavirus outbreak, trace contacts globally

South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, Canada, UK, US and France have all identified exposed contacts requiring monitoring and testing. WHO and ECDC say risk to general population remains low while monitoring continues.

2d agoreuters.com
[Early]
ProMED-mail · Moderator post

Probable index case: 70-year-old Dutch traveler, four-month South America trip

The MV Hondius index case is reported to have spent November 2025–April 2026 traveling through Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina, with possible exposure during birdwatching activities. First symptoms 6 April; died aboard ship 11 April, initially attributed to natural causes.

2d agopromedmail.org
[Confirmed]
CNN · World

From US to Singapore, countries race to track hantavirus

147 people aboard the MV Hondius (88 passengers, 59 crew, 23 nationalities) disembarked across multiple ports including Saint Helena, Cape Verde, and now Tenerife. Public health authorities working to identify all contacts within the 1–8 week incubation window.

2d agocnn.com
γ Outbreak Map

Every case on a global map.

Live case reports plotted worldwide — filterable by year, syndrome, and verification level. Tap "Use my location" to see how close reports are to where you are. Your location is checked once on tap and never stored or sent off the device.

Official Alert — CDC, WHO, PAHO, state & county
Confirmed Media — Reuters, AP, BBC citing officials
Early Signal — ProMED, GDELT, regional
Unverified — single-source / social
Travel Notice — CDC traveler guidance
Filters 2024202320181993  ·  HPSHFRS  ·  Use my location
δ Strains & Reservoirs

Different rodents, different regions, different strains.

Every hantavirus is locked to a specific rodent species. Knowing the rodent in your region tells you which strain to watch for. Profiles inside the app are pulled live from Wikipedia.

Sin Nombre virus

North America · HPS
Reservoir
Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)
First ID
1993, Four Corners
CFR
~36%
P-to-P?
No

The strain that defined hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Carried by deer mice across the western US and Canada.

Andes virus

South America · HPS
Reservoir
Long-tailed pygmy rice rat
Region
Argentina, Chile, Brazil
CFR
~25–35%
P-to-P?
Yes (rare)

The only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission. Patagonia is the historical hotspot.

Hantaan virus

East Asia · HFRS
Reservoir
Striped field mouse
Region
Korea, China, far-east Russia
CFR
up to ~12%
Vaccine
In use in parts of Asia

The original hantavirus, identified near the Hantan River in Korea in 1976. Severe HFRS.

Puumala virus

Europe · Mild HFRS
Reservoir
Bank vole (Myodes glareolus)
Region
Scandinavia, central Europe, Russia
CFR
~0.4%
Aka
Nephropathia epidemica

The mildest of the major HFRS strains. Most cases recover with supportive care alone.

ε Prevention Protocol

Cabin, shed, garage, storage. Do this first.

Hantavirus is mainly linked to contact with rodent waste. Don't sweep. Don't vacuum dry. Both aerosolize the virus. Wet down, soak, wipe damp.

// Always

  • Air the space at least 30 min before entering.
  • Wear gloves — and a mask if recommended.
  • Spray droppings & nesting material with disinfectant.
  • Wait the dwell time before wiping with damp cloth.
  • Bag & dispose. Wash hands thoroughly.
  • Seal rodent entry points (gaps, vents, pipes).

// Never

  • Sweep dry droppings — aerosolizes the virus.
  • Vacuum dry droppings — same reason.
  • Use a leaf blower near nesting material.
  • Handle live or dead rodents bare-handed.
  • Skip dwell time after spraying disinfectant.
  • Re-use cleanup gloves for any other task.
Medical disclaimer Hantavirus Tracker is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a medical device and does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have symptoms after possible rodent exposure — fever, fatigue, muscle aches, shortness of breath — seek care immediately. For emergencies, call your local emergency number.
ζ Articles & Field Notes

In-depth on every major topic.

Long-form, sourced articles drawn from CDC, WHO, PAHO, and ProMED public guidance.

№ 001
Pillar guide · 12 min

What is hantavirus? A complete guide.

Where it comes from, how it spreads, the difference between HPS and HFRS, who's at risk, and the prevention steps that actually matter.

Read
№ 002
Symptoms · 8 min

Hantavirus symptoms after rodent exposure.

The flu-like opening week, the sudden second-phase escalation, and exactly when to go to the ER.

Read
№ 003
Prevention · 7 min

How to clean mouse droppings safely (CDC protocol).

Step-by-step safe cleanup of rodent droppings, urine, and nesting material — plus the things you should never do.

Read
№ 004
History · 10 min

The 1993 Four Corners outbreak — and how Sin Nombre was discovered.

How a cluster of unexplained respiratory deaths in the US Southwest changed how the world thinks about hantavirus.

Read
№ 005
Basics · 9 min

HPS vs HFRS: the two faces of hantavirus disease.

Why hantavirus looks different in the Americas than in Europe and Asia.

Read
№ 006
Travel · 8 min

Cabin, shed & travel safety: rural lodging without the risk.

Air it out. Inspect. Pack the right supplies. A travel-safety checklist for cabins, AirBnBs, and rural lodging.

Read
All articles →
η Timeline

Today, in context.

A chronological reading of cases and major events going back decades.

  • 2026 / Q2

    MV Hondius outbreak · Active

    An Andes-virus cluster aboard the Dutch expedition cruise MV Hondius, which departed Ushuaia on 1 April 2026 for Antarctica and the South Atlantic. As of 7 May: 5 confirmed cases, 8 suspected, 3 deaths. Index case linked to a four-month South America trip. WHO publishes DON599; ECDC follows with an assessment. At least 9 countries trace contacts; 5 US states monitor returning passengers. WHO assesses global risk as low.

  • 2018

    Argentina Andean cluster

    A multi-province cluster in Patagonia raised concern about person-to-person transmission of Andes virus — a rare pattern for hantaviruses.

  • 2012

    Yosemite cabin outbreak

    Multiple visitors developed HPS after staying in tent-cabins; CDC issued a travel notice that year.

  • 1993

    Four Corners discovery

    A cluster of severe respiratory cases in the southwestern US led to the discovery of Sin Nombre virus and the recognition of HPS.

θ Privacy & Ads

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ι Frequently Asked

Hantavirus, explained.

The questions people most often type into a search bar — answered with sourced summaries.

What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a family of viruses (family Hantaviridae) carried mainly by rodents. People catch it from contact with infected rodents — usually by breathing in virus particles from urine, droppings, or nesting material that's been disturbed.

It causes one of two diseases depending on the strain: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the Americas, or hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Europe and Asia.

How is hantavirus spread?

Most cases come from inhaling aerosolized virus when fresh rodent urine, droppings, or nesting material is stirred up — sweeping a cabin, vacuuming a shed, cleaning a closed garage. Direct contact, bites, and contaminated food are rarer routes.

Person-to-person spread is extremely rare and only documented for Andes virus.

What are the symptoms of hantavirus?

Early symptoms (1–8 weeks after exposure): fever, fatigue, deep muscle aches (especially thighs/back/shoulders), headache, dizziness, chills, sometimes nausea or vomiting.

4–10 days later, the disease can escalate. HPS brings severe shortness of breath. HFRS brings low blood pressure, kidney failure, and bleeding. Both forms can be life-threatening — seek emergency care if symptoms develop after rodent exposure.

Is there a hantavirus vaccine?

No FDA-approved vaccine in the US or Europe. Some Hantaan-virus vaccines are used in parts of East Asia. Prevention — avoiding rodent exposure and cleaning droppings safely — is the primary defense.

How do I clean rodent droppings safely?

Air out the space for at least 30 minutes. Wear gloves. Spray droppings and nesting material with disinfectant and let it soak. Wipe with a damp cloth — do not sweep or vacuum dry droppings, because that aerosolizes the virus. Bag, dispose, wash hands.

Can hantavirus spread person-to-person?

For nearly all hantavirus strains: no. The documented exception is Andes virus in southern South America, where rare person-to-person transmission has been recorded — most notably during the 2018–2019 cluster in Patagonia.

What is the 2026 MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak?

An Andes-virus cluster aboard the Dutch expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions. The vessel departed Ushuaia, Argentina on 1 April 2026 for Antarctica and the South Atlantic islands.

As of 7 May 2026, WHO Disease Outbreak News DON599 reports 5 laboratory-confirmed cases, 8 suspected, and 3 deaths. The strain has been confirmed as Andes virus — the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission, though that route remains rare.

The index case is reported to be a 70-year-old Dutch traveler who spent November 2025 through April 2026 in Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina, with likely exposure during a birdwatching trip. At least 9 countries are tracing exposed contacts; the US CDC is working with health departments in Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia to monitor returning passengers. WHO currently assesses risk to the general population as low.

Where is hantavirus most common?

Found on every populated continent except Australia. Sin Nombre in North America, Andes in South America, Puumala & Dobrava-Belgrade in Europe, Hantaan in East Asia, Seoul virus in cities worldwide.

Is Hantavirus Tracker free? Does it have ads?

Free to download and use. The app is supported by Google AdMob. No account, no health data, no symptom logging, no tracking, no profiling. Location is opt-in, used once on tap, never stored or sent off your device. Full detail in our Privacy Policy.

Where does the data come from?

CDC, WHO Disease Outbreak News, PAHO, ProMED-mail, state and national health departments, Reuters, AP, BBC, Google News, GDELT, and live Wikipedia profiles. Every alert carries a verification label so you know what level of source it came from.

Does the app diagnose hantavirus?

No. Hantavirus Tracker is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a medical device, does not diagnose any condition, and is not a substitute for medical care.

κ Glossary

Key terms in one place.

If you've come from a news headline and want to know what a term means, start here.

Hantavirus
Hantaviridae family. Rodent-borne viruses that cause two clinical syndromes in humans: HPS in the Americas, HFRS in Europe and Asia.
HPS
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Severe lung disease caused mainly by Sin Nombre and Andes viruses. Case fatality rate ~36% for Sin Nombre.
HFRS
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Kidney-focused disease caused by Hantaan, Seoul, Puumala, and Dobrava viruses. Severity varies dramatically by strain.
Sin Nombre
Sin Nombre virus. Most common HPS-causing hantavirus in North America. Discovered during the 1993 Four Corners outbreak. Reservoir: deer mouse.
Andes virus
Andes orthohantavirus. HPS-causing strain in southern South America. The only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission.
Reservoir
Reservoir species. The animal that naturally carries a virus without being seriously sickened by it. For hantaviruses, that's specific rodent species.
Aerosolized
Aerosolized virus. Suspended in the air as fine particles. Sweeping or vacuuming dry rodent droppings aerosolizes the virus.
ProMED-mail
Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases. A volunteer expert network that often surfaces outbreak signals before official confirmation.
GDELT
Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone. Monitors world news in near real time. Powers the early-signal layer.
Disease Outbreak News
WHO Disease Outbreak News (DON). The WHO's formal communication channel for confirmed outbreaks. Used as a top-tier official source.
2026 mv hondius outbreak andes virus 2026 hantavirus news hantavirus map how to clean mouse droppings sin nombre virus andes virus hantaan virus puumala virus four corners 1993 hantavirus symptoms hps vs hfrs cabin safety hantavirus vaccine hantavirus contagious
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