Singapore tests two residents for hantavirus after cruise outbreak

The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) has isolated and is testing two Singapore residents following their travel on the cruise ship MV Hondius, which has reported an outbreak of Andes hantavirus.

The CDA was notified on May 4 and May 5, 2026, that the two individuals had been onboard the vessel. Both men have been isolated at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) while awaiting test results for the virus.

One of the individuals, a 67-year-old Singaporean male who arrived in Singapore on May 2, 2026, is reported to have a runny nose but is otherwise well. The second individual, a 65-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident male who arrived in Singapore on May 6, 2026, is asymptomatic.

Cruise and Travel History

The two residents were onboard the MV Hondius when it departed from the Argentinian port of Ushuaia on April 1, 2026. Public health officials have also identified a specific point of exposure during their return journey.

Both individuals disembarked from the ship and traveled on the same flight from St Helena to Johannesburg on April 25, 2026. That flight also carried a confirmed hantavirus case. While that confirmed case did not travel to Singapore and subsequently passed away in South Africa, the shared flight has contributed to the health monitoring of the two residents.

Outbreak Status and Risk Assessment

As of May 6, 2026, a total of eight cases have been linked to the cluster on the cruise ship, including three deaths. Of these eight cases, three have been confirmed as hantavirus infections, while the remaining cases are still under investigation.

Despite the cluster, health authorities have indicated that the immediate threat to the general population is minimal. The CDA stated that the risk to the general public in Singapore is currently low.

This local assessment aligns with international monitoring, as the World Health Organization (WHO) currently assesses the risk to the global population as low.

Public Health Protocols

The two residents remain under monitoring and isolation at the NCID. The CDA has established a specific protocol for their release based on their test results.

If the individuals test negative for hantavirus, they will be required to undergo a 30-day quarantine starting from the date of their last exposure. This duration is based on the clinical expectation that the majority of hantavirus cases will become symptomatic within this timeframe.