2 S'pore residents isolated at NCID after hantavirus exposure on cruise & flight, undergoing testing: CDA

Two Singapore residents who were on board the cruise ship MV Hondius have been isolated at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), where they are being tested for hantavirus.

The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said in a press release on May 7 that their test results are pending.

One has a runny nose but is otherwise well, and the other is asymptomatic, CDA said.

The risk to the general public in Singapore is currently low, they added.

Same flight as confirmed case

The two individuals were onboard the MV Hondius when it departed from the Argentinian port of Ushuaia on Apr. 1, 2026.

The first individual, a 67-year-old Singaporean male, arrived in Singapore on May 2.

The second, a 65-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident male, arrived in Singapore on May 6.

Both had disembarked from the ship and were also on the same flight as a confirmed hantavirus case from St Helena to Johannesburg on Apr. 25, CDA said.

The confirmed case did not travel to Singapore and has since passed away in South Africa.

Eight cases linked to outbreak

As of May 6, eight cases, including three deaths, have been linked to the cluster on the cruise ship.

Three of the cases were confirmed to be infected with hantavirus, and the rest are under investigation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) currently assesses the risk to the global population as low.

Public health measures for returnees to Singapore

CDA shared that both Singapore residents are currently monitored and isolated at NCID.

If they test negative for hantavirus, they will be quarantined for 30 days from the date of last exposure, as the majority of hantavirus cases are expected to become symptomatic within this period.

Testing will be conducted again before release from quarantine, and they will then undergo phone surveillance for the remaining monitoring period of 45 days from the date of last exposure, which is the maximum incubation period for hantavirus exposure.

If they test positive for hantavirus, they will remain hospitalised for monitoring and treatment, given the potential severity of hantavirus infection.

Contact tracing will be conducted to identify persons who have been exposed during the infectious period, and close contacts will be quarantined.

About Hantavirus and the MV Hondius outbreak

Hantaviruses are viruses carried by some rodents, CDA said.

People can become infected when they breathe in dust contaminated with urine, droppings or saliva from infected rodents, especially when cleaning or disturbing areas with rodent activity.

Infections are uncommon, but illness can range from mild to severe.

While hantaviruses do not usually spread from person to person, one species, the Andes virus found in parts of South America, has been associated with human-to-human transmission.

Symptoms of infection with the Andes virus typically include fever, body aches, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms and difficulty breathing, and progress rapidly to shock and death.

Treatment consists of supportive care and management in hospital if required, but there is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccination, CDA said.

The mode of transmission for the cases linked to the MV Hondius remains under investigation.

There is speculation that a Dutch couple who has since died contracted hantavirus from rodents after going on a bird-watching tour that included a visit to a landfill.

WHO has indicated that human-to-human transmission cannot be excluded and has advised all persons who have been on the MV Hondius to monitor their health and seek medical attention promptly if experiencing symptoms.

Public health advisory

To reduce the risk of hantavirus infection, individuals travelling to areas with known hantavirus transmission should take the following precautionary measures, CDA said, especially when planning to camp, hike, or visit rural areas:

• Avoid contact with rodents and areas contaminated by their urine, droppings, saliva or nesting materials.
• Keep accommodation areas clean, seal gaps where rodents can enter, store food securely and dispose of rubbish properly.
• Use a damp cloth or mop to clean surfaces instead of dry sweeping to avoid stirring up potentially contaminated dust particles.
• Maintain good personal hygiene.
• Avoid close contact and sharing common items with persons who are unwell, such as those suffering from respiratory or gastrointestinal (e.g.,vomiting/diarrhoea) symptoms.

Travellers who become unwell during or after travel should seek prompt medical attention and inform their doctors of their recent travel history, itinerary and any potential exposure to rodents or unwell persons, CDA reminded.