Two Singapore residents have been placed in isolation at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) after possible exposure to hantavirus linked to an outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius.
According to the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), both individuals are currently undergoing testing while health authorities closely monitor the situation. Officials stressed that the risk to the general public in Singapore remains low at this stage.
The two men had travelled on the MV Hondius after it departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on Apr. 1, 2026. Authorities revealed that both were also on the same flight as a confirmed hantavirus patient while travelling from St Helena to Johannesburg on Apr. 25.
One of the Singapore residents, a 67-year-old Singaporean man, returned to Singapore on May 2. The second individual, a 65-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident, arrived on May 6.
CDA said one of the men currently has a runny nose but is otherwise in stable condition, while the other remains asymptomatic.
Cruise Ship Outbreak Linked To Multiple Cases And Deaths
Health authorities disclosed that eight cases have so far been linked to the outbreak associated with the MV Hondius cruise. Three deaths have already been reported overseas.
Among the cases, three infections have been confirmed as hantavirus, while investigations continue into the remaining cases. The World Health Organization currently assesses the overall global risk as low.
The confirmed hantavirus patient who shared the same flight with the Singapore residents did not travel to Singapore and reportedly died in South Africa.
Authorities are now tracing possible exposure routes connected to the cruise ship. There has been speculation that some passengers may have contracted the virus after exposure to rodents during a bird-watching excursion that included a landfill visit.
The exact transmission route linked to the MV Hondius outbreak remains under investigation.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are typically carried by rodents and can infect humans through exposure to contaminated urine, saliva or droppings. People may become infected after inhaling contaminated dust particles, particularly while cleaning enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces with rodent activity.
While infections are considered rare, hantavirus illness can become severe and potentially fatal.
One strain known as the Andes virus, found in parts of South America, has also been linked to rare cases of human-to-human transmission.
Symptoms can initially resemble flu-like illnesses, including fever, body aches, fatigue and gastrointestinal problems, before rapidly progressing to breathing difficulties, shock and severe complications in some patients.
Currently, there is no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus infections. Patients who develop serious symptoms generally require hospital-based supportive care and monitoring.
Singapore Authorities Monitoring Situation Closely
Both Singapore residents are currently isolated at NCID while awaiting test results. If they test negative, they will still undergo quarantine and health monitoring due to the virus’s long incubation period.
CDA explained that exposed individuals may be quarantined for up to 30 days from their last exposure, followed by additional phone surveillance extending up to 45 days.
Should either individual test positive, authorities will begin contact tracing operations to identify anyone who may have been exposed during the infectious period.
Singapore health authorities have also advised travellers visiting areas with known hantavirus activity to avoid contact with rodents, maintain proper hygiene, and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms develop after travel.