Monday, May 18Monday, May 18The hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship has resulted in multiple confirmed cases among evacuees. As of May 12, 2026, seven confirmed cases have been reported, including a French woman who developed symptoms during evacuation and tested positive upon arrival in Paris . The total number of confirmed and suspected cases has reached 10, prompting evacuations of nationals from several countries .
Three additional passengers—an American, a Spaniard, and a French national—tested positive after disembarking, bringing the total to at least seven confirmed infections . A French woman, initially misdiagnosed with anxiety despite flu-like symptoms, is now in critical condition . Two U.S. citizens and another French passenger have also tested positive .
The CDC has reassured the public that hantavirus is not comparable to COVID-19, emphasizing that it does not spread as easily between humans. However, concerns persist as evacuees, including U.S. passengers, have been placed in quarantine facilities in Nebraska . In the UK, passengers from the MV Hondius are being quarantined at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral, a site previously used for COVID-19 quarantines .
Despite the limited number of cases, conspiracy theories have spread online, falsely claiming the outbreak is a planned pandemic, a bioweapon, or linked to COVID-19 vaccines. Health authorities have dismissed these claims as misinformation . The last passengers have now disembarked from the virus-hit cruise ship .
> Background: **Cruise Ship Evacuates Passengers in Canary Islands Over Hantavirus Fears** — *1 days ago*
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bbc · 6 days ago
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financial times · 6 days ago
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financial times · 6 days ago
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theguardian · 6 days ago
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aljazeera · 6 days ago
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theguardian · 6 days ago
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news.yahoo.com · 14 days ago
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france24 · 14 days ago
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thejournal · 14 days ago
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theguardian · 14 days ago
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aljazeera · 14 days ago
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news.yahoo.com · 14 days ago
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theguardian · 14 days ago
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