Dutch ornithologist Leo Schilperoord, 70, from Haulerwijk in the Netherlands, has been marked as the first identified case in a hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius expedition cruise.
At the time of exposure, Schilperoord and his wife, Mirjam, aged 69, were seasoned birdwatchers traveling through South America. Their fateful visit to a landfill near Ushuaia, Argentina, on March 27, attracted attention for its variety of birds, including the white-throated caracara, and also housed rodents, which subsequently spread the virus, as reported by the New York Post.
Health authorities concluded that Schilperoord contracted the Andes strain of hantavirus via inhalation of particles from the droppings of infected long-tailed pygmy rice rats.
On April 1, the Schilperoords boarded the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius with approximately 112 fellow passengers and crew members, many sharing interests in birdwatching. Initial symptoms appeared for Schilperoord by April 6, culminating in his death aboard the vessel on April 11.
Following this, his wife tragically passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa, after collapsing at an airport during their return journey.
“Patient Zero” in the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak has been identified as ornithologist Leo Schilperoord, whose passion for birds led him to a landfill in Argentina to observe birds that may have cost him his life. pic.twitter.com/voYfg4HTvG
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) May 9, 2026
Authorities suspect that the initial outbreak stemmed from rodent-to-human transmission at the Ushuaia landfill. The unique characteristics of the Andes strain allowed it to spread among close contacts aboard the ship. Symptoms associated with this strain often include fever, headaches, and respiratory problems, potentially progressing to severe pneumonia or shock.
To date, there are six confirmed cases, alongside additional suspected infections, resulting in three fatalities. The World Health Organization was alerted on May 2, coordinating efforts with institutions like the ECDC and CDC.
Contact tracing is actively underway for passengers who disembarked and returned to various countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
Health officials assess the general public’s risk as low, given that most hantavirus strains transmit primarily through rodent contact. However, the confined environment of the ship has enabled limited person-to-person spread.
The MV Hondius is scheduled to reach Tenerife’s waters on May 10 for organized disembarkation, with safety protocols in place for passengers, including phased screening and travel arrangements.
Oversight by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will accompany Spanish authorities during this process.
