During the cruise, which was travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde off west Africa, "illness onset occurred between 6 and 28 April 2026," WHO said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday confirmed a total of eight cases, up from seven earlier reported, including three deaths from the hantavirus outbreak.

CBI News notes that in an update highlighting the disease outbreak linked to MV Hondius, the Organisation noted that the statistics were as of Friday, May 8, 2026.

“As of 8 May, a total of 8 cases, including 3 deaths, have been reported”, the statement said.

It added that six cases are confirmed as Andes virus, four patients are currently hospitalised, while one case previously reported as suspected has now been reclassified as a non-case after testing negative for Andes (ANDV) virus through specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology.

Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and can occasionally spread to people.

It noted that epidemiological investigations are underway to determine the source of exposure, including the travel history and potential exposures of the first case, adding that one of its experts and one from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control are currently on board the cruise ship to provide support to the passengers, crews, and ship operators during the journey.

During the cruise, which was travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde off west Africa, “illness onset occurred between 6 and 28 April 2026,” WHO said

It was “characterised by fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rapid progression to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock,” it said, adding that “further investigations are ongoing”.

WHO stressed that it assessed the risk to the global population from outbreak as “low”, adding that it would continue to monitor the situation.