Andes Hantavirus Arrives in Europe: Lack of Preparedness and Rising Lethality (xataka.com)

• Andes hantavirus reaches Europe via cruise ship MV Hondius
• No specific protocols or diagnostics in EU countries
• Lethality in Argentina rose to 33.6%, northward spread

"The cruise ship MV Hondius brought the Andes hantavirus to Tenerife after a stop in Cape Verde. European countries lacked specific protocols and diagnostic capacity for this South American pathogen, active since 2018 and declared an outbreak in Argentina in 2025. Lethality rose from historic ~20% to 33.6% in 2025. The virus is spreading north from Patagonia, with 42 cases in Buenos Aires. Experts say risk to the general public is low, but the lack of preparation highlights gaps in European disease surveillance."