Swiss Man Tests Positive for Rare Andes Hantavirus Strain After Cruise Linked to 3 Deaths

A Swiss man who returned from a cruise ship tied to a deadly hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the virus and gone into isolation, Swiss health officials said.

The man traveled on the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged vessel at the center of an outbreak that killed three passengers and sickened others. He sought medical care after developing symptoms and was immediately isolated. His wife, who accompanied him, is self-isolating but shows no symptoms.

Officials confirmed the case involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread between humans through close contact, unlike most hantavirus infections linked to rodent droppings.

South African health authorities identified the same strain in two other passengers from the ship. The outbreak stranded the vessel off Cape Verde with nearly 150 passengers and crew aboard.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that three suspected cases were evacuated to the Netherlands for treatment. "At this stage, the overall public health risk remains low," Tedros said.

Authorities note that person-to-person transmission of the Andes strain is uncommon and usually requires prolonged close contact. Health officials are monitoring passengers on board and those who have disembarked, with coordination across countries.

The ship left Argentina on April 1 for a Southern Atlantic route with Antarctica stops before the outbreak halted its plans. Spain has agreed to accept the vessel in the Canary Islands, though local officials expressed concerns about risks to residents.

Hantavirus infections are rare but serious, causing symptoms from fever and fatigue to severe respiratory illness.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.