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Chronology of the Transatlantic Outbreak
The epidemiological curve reveals a classic single-point zoonotic introduction followed by secondary, localized transmission inside the confined ecosystem of the vessel.
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April 1 (Ushuaia, Argentina): The MV Hondius departs the southern tip of Argentina for a 33-day South Atlantic expedition. The index case, an adult male, boards the vessel after spending over three months traveling through rural sectors of Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay—the endemic geographic range of the long-tailed pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus), the primary reservoir for the Andes virus.
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April 6–11 (At Sea to South Georgia): The index case manifests a sudden onset of fever, headache, and mild diarrhea on April 6, rapidly deteriorating into severe respiratory distress before dying on board on April 11. Due to the clinical overlap with standard viral pneumonias, hantavirus is not initially suspected.
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April 24 (Saint Helena): The vessel docks at the remote British territory, where 30 passengers disembark. Among them is the index case’s spouse, who begins showing severe gastrointestinal distress and subsequently collapses and passes away at an airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 26.
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April 26–May 4 (Ascension Island to Cape Verde): Multiple secondary cases emerge among the passengers and crew, including the ship’s medical officer and an expedition guide. A British national is medically evacuated via Ascension Island to an intensive care unit in South Africa, while a German passenger succumbs to the illness on board on May 2.
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May 10–12 (Tenerife, Canary Islands): Under strict infection control protocols, the vessel is permitted to dock at the Port of Granadilla. Teams in full-body protective suits execute a systematic evacuation of 116 passengers and crew, routing them to specialized quarantine facilities in Madrid, Paris, Manchester, and Eindhoven via non-commercial charter flights.