The government of St. Kitts and Nevis says it is closely monitoring an international outbreak of Hantavirus infection linked to the expedition cruise vessel MV Hondius.
As of Friday, the British government confirmed that a third British national has been diagnosed with suspected Hantavirus and is currently on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the ship stopped in mid-April.
Two other British men have confirmed cases. One remains in stable condition in the Netherlands after being evacuated from the ship on Wednesday, while the other is in intensive care after being flown to South Africa last month.
Five cases of Hantavirus have been confirmed in total, including one fatality among the cruise passengers.
In a statement, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer in St. Kitts and Nevis said that while one citizen of the twin-island federation was among those aboard the vessel, “there are currently no reported or suspected cases of Hantavirus in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
Authorities in Basseterre said the advisory is intended to provide timely public information, encourage awareness of preventive measures, and reassure residents that the overall public health risk remains low at this time.
The MV Hondius departed Argentina on April 1, 2026, carrying passengers and crew from 28 countries, including one citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Hantavirus is a serious zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents, particularly mice and rats. Infection may occur when contaminated particles from rodent nesting materials become airborne and are subsequently inhaled.
The South African Health Ministry has confirmed that the Andes strain of Hantavirus has been identified in two cases linked to the outbreak.
This strain, found in South America, is of particular concern because, unlike most Hantavirus strains, it has shown the potential for person-to-person transmission through prolonged and very close contact with symptomatic individuals.
Hantavirus infection is highly fatal and can cause severe respiratory illness known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), characterized by fever, muscle aches, cough, shortness of breath, and rapidly progressive respiratory failure. It can also cause hemorrhagic fever and kidney disease.
Health officials advise that people can reduce risk by avoiding rodent-infested areas without appropriate protection, and by using face masks, gloves, and disinfectants when cleaning contaminated spaces to prevent airborne transmission.
“At present, there are no reported or suspected cases of Hantavirus within the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the current public health risk associated with Hantavirus as low,” the Office of the Chief Medical Officer said.
“The Ministry of Health of St. Kitts and Nevis will continue to closely monitor developments related to this outbreak and maintain ongoing surveillance and collaboration with regional and international public health partners,” the statement added.
