Confirmed cases
235
Americas 2025 (PAHO 229) plus 2026 cruise-ship cluster (6 laboratory-confirmed per WHO DON 600, 8 May 2026)
Global status
No WHO public-health emergency of international concern declared for hantavirus. Localised hantavirus pulmonary syndrome activity continues in the Americas Region, and a small multi-country cruise-ship cluster was reported in May 2026.
Confirmed and suspected cases are tracked separately and never summed. Every figure on this page links to a Tier-1 official source. Reporting period: 2025 (Americas Region, EW 1–47) and 2026 to date (cruise-ship cluster).
Last updated: —
Global key indicators
PAHO
Suspected cases
2
Cruise-ship cluster: WHO DON 600 (8 May 2026) reports 8 cases total — 6 laboratory-confirmed, 2 probable. WHO "probable" mapped to our suspected field per methodology.
Deaths
62
Americas 2025 (59) plus cruise-ship cluster (3)
Active outbreaks
2
Paraguay (Mariscal Estigarribia, occupational); cruise-ship cluster
Countries with reports
15
8 in PAHO Americas alert (ARG, BRA, BOL, CHL, PAN, PRY, URY, USA) plus 7 additional cluster countries from WHO DON 600 (CPV, DEU, NLD, ZAF, ESP, CHE, GBR; ARG and CHL already counted in PAHO).
Human-to-human transmission
Documented (Andes virus only)
WHO Fact Sheet: "transmission between people has been associated with close and prolonged contact, particularly among household members or intimate partners." WHO DON 600 (8 May 2026) documents H2H transmission among close contacts aboard the cruise vessel — first H2H event recorded in the 2026 cluster. WHO risk assessment: low globally, moderate on the cruise ship.
Incubation period
1–8 weeks
After exposure to infected rodent excreta
Basic reproduction number (R₀)
Not established
WHO has not published an R₀ for hantavirus.
Licensed vaccine
None
WHO: "There is no licenced specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for hantavirus infection."
Last reviewed
2026-05-10
Tier-1 sources rechecked 10 May 2026. WHO DON 600 (8 May 2026) supersedes DON 599 and the 7 May 2026 cruise news for cluster figures: 6 confirmed (was 5), 2 probable (was 3 suspected), 9 affected countries (was 6). H2H transmission documented aboard the vessel; WHO risk-level moderate on the ship, low globally.
Country detail
8 countries with data · click a shaded country
Confirmed cases01–910–2425–4950+no dataactive outbreak
Official news feed
Chronological summary of updates from official health authorities. Each item links to the original publication. No social media. No editorialising.
- Risk AssessmentWHO
WHO updated the cruise-ship cluster figures: "a total of eight cases, including three deaths (case fatality ratio 38%)". Six cases laboratory-confirmed as hantavirus, two probable. Four patients currently hospitalised, one in intensive care in Johannesburg. Affected countries expanded to nine: Argentina, Cabo Verde, Chile, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom. All confirmed cases identified as Andes virus (Orthohantavirus andesense). H2H transmission documented among close contacts aboard the vessel. WHO assesses the risk as low at the global level and moderate at the cruise-ship level.
WHO DON 2026-DON600: Hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship travel, Multi-country (update) - Risk AssessmentWHO
WHO updated figures for the cruise-ship cluster: 8 cases, 5 confirmed as hantavirus (Andes virus), 3 deaths. Director-General Dr Tedros stated WHO assesses the public-health risk as low because Andes virus only transmits between people via close, prolonged contact. WHO deployed an onboard expert, shipped 2,500 diagnostic kits from Argentina to five countries, and developed disembarkation guidance under the IHR.
WHO's response to hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship - General UpdateWHO
WHO updated its Hantavirus Fact Sheet. Incubation period given as 1–8 weeks. Human-to-human transmission documented only for Andes virus in the Americas. Case fatality 20–40% commonly (up to 50%) for HCPS; <1–15% for HFRS. No licensed antiviral or vaccine.
WHO Hantavirus Fact Sheet - Risk AssessmentWHO
WHO reported a hantavirus cluster on a cruise ship that departed Argentina on 1 April 2026: 2 confirmed and 5 suspected cases, 3 deaths. Affected countries: Argentina, Cabo Verde, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, United Kingdom. Andes virus suspected. WHO assessed global risk as low.
WHO DON 2026-DON599: Hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship travel, Multi-country - General UpdateCDC
CDC refreshed its hantavirus case data page. Cumulative since surveillance began in 1993: 890 reported cases of hantavirus disease, 859 of which are HPS. Reported case fatality 35%.
CDC Hantavirus Reported Cases - Risk AssessmentPAHO
PAHO/WHO issued an Epidemiological Alert for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in the Americas. Eight countries reported 229 confirmed cases and 59 deaths through EW 47 of 2025; regional case fatality rate 25.7%. Significant incidence increases in Bolivia and Paraguay; lethality higher than recent averages in Argentina and Brazil.
PAHO Epidemiological Alert: HPS in the Americas Region (19 December 2025) - General UpdateECDC
ECDC published its 2023 Annual Epidemiological Report for hantavirus. EU/EEA reported 1,885 cases in 2023 (0.4 per 100 000), the lowest rate in the 2019–2023 period. Finland and Germany together accounted for 60.5% of cases.
ECDC Hantavirus Infection — Annual Epidemiological Report for 2023