Could cruise ship passengers sue over the hantavirus outbreak? – CTV

May 13, 2026

NEW YORK — Passengers on a cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak have limited legal recourse, though the ship’s operator could still be liable if it behaved recklessly.

Here is a look at the legal outlook for passengers on the MV Hondius, the last of whom disembarked on Monday after a long ordeal at sea.

What do we know about the outbreak?

The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged polar expedition cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, was carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew near Antarctica when it reported a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses to global health authorities on May 3.

The outbreak was confirmed as hantavirus after it was detected in a passenger who disembarked in late April and was treated in South Africa. The hantavirus spreads via contact with rats and mice, but the strain found on the ship can spread from human to human.

Read more: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/could-cruise-ship-passengers-sue-over-the-hantavirus-outbreak/