Netherlands: Passenger from cruise ship hospitalized in Netherlands over suspected hantavirus infection.

SHOTLIST: LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS (MAY 7, 2026) 1. VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF LEIDEN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTERLEIDEN, NETHERLANDS - MAY 7: A passenger evacuated from the Antarctic cruise ship MV Hondius in the Netherlands was hospitalized in Leiden on Thursday, May 7, on suspicion of hantavirus infection. Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) said the passenger was transferred under medical supervision from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to the hospital for treatment and observation. The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, which had approximately 150 passengers aboard, reported a cluster of suspected hantavirus cases while sailing off Cape Verde. Three passengers have died. The ship departed from Argentina, crossed the Atlantic with stops at or near isolated islands, then turned north toward Cape Verde off Africa’s northwest coast. Hantavirus typically spreads through contact with infected rodents' urine, droppings or saliva, according to the World Health Organization. Human-to-human transmission is rare but possible in close contact with symptomatic patients.