Singapore has isolated and is testing two of its residents who travelled aboard a cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Thursday.
The two men, aged 67 and 65, were aboard the ship when it departed from the Argentine port of Ushuaia on 1 April 2026. One arrived in Singapore on 2 May and the other on 6 May.
According to Singapore’s Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), one of the men has a runny nose but is otherwise well, while the second remains asymptomatic.
“The risk to the general public in Singapore is currently low,” the agency said.
The two passengers are currently being tested for hantavirus at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) in Singapore.
If they test negative, they will undergo a 30-day quarantine period from the date of last exposure, followed by additional testing before release and phone surveillance for the remainder of the 45-day maximum incubation period.
If either tests positive, they will remain in hospital for treatment and monitoring.
Countries worldwide are tracing passengers from the virus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius to prevent further spread of hantavirus after an outbreak linked to the vessel left three people dead and several others infected.
A Dutch couple and a German national have died in the outbreak, while eight cases have so far been linked to the cluster. Three of those cases were confirmed as hantavirus infections, while the remaining cases are still under investigation.
Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with infected rodents, including exposure to their urine, droppings or saliva. Although person-to-person transmission is rare, the Andes virus strain found in parts of South America has previously been associated with human transmission.
As of 6 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) assessed the global public health risk from the outbreak as low.
However, WHO said the exact mode of transmission linked to the MV Hondius outbreak remains under investigation and human-to-human transmission cannot yet be ruled out.
The agency advised all passengers who travelled on the ship to monitor their health closely and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms develop.
Symptoms of Andes hantavirus infection can include fever, body aches, fatigue, gastrointestinal problems and breathing difficulties. Severe cases may rapidly progress to shock and death.
There is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine, with care focused on supportive hospital treatment.
Health authorities advised travellers visiting areas with known hantavirus transmission to avoid contact with rodents and contaminated environments, maintain good hygiene and store food safely.
Monday marks the second of two days of national mourning in Poland as police bolstered security after six people were killed in a mass sh...
Global temperatures are projected to rise by up to 2.8°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100 under current climate policies, according to a Uni...
Clashes between protesters and police erupted in Paris and Marseille on Saturday as demonstrations over rising living costs and declining public se...
Poland has declared two days of national mourning after a gunman opened fire in Kraków's historic main square. Investigators are examining possible far-right influences and the discovery of three bodies at the suspect's home.
Monday marks the second of two days of national mourning in Poland as police bolstered security after six people were killed in a mass shooting in Kraków.
Russian forces launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv early on Saturday, 7 November, injuring two people and damaging residential buildings, just three days before U.S.-led peace talks with Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-aligned group towards Riyadh on Sunday (8 November), after loud booms were heard in the Saudi capital. The Aramco building was damaged by falling debris.
New Zealand’s ruling centre-right National Party has taken a narrow lead over the opposition Labour Party in Saturday’s general election, with the country’s current three-party coalition projected to retain power.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for the 5th of November, as health emergencies, humanitarian crises, political shifts, and cybersecurity threats put governments and essential services under pressure across the globe. Here are five stories worth your attention.
Kazakhstan plans to manufacture 494 types of medicines through eight major investment projects worth a combined $862 million, Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova announced on 3 November, local media reported.
Dengue fever has killed more people in Bangladesh this year than in the whole of 2025, with October the deadliest month so far, data from Bangladesh's Health Ministry shows.
Visitors to Armenia could face temperature screening after a lab worker died from suspected Pneumonic plague in Russia, Yerevan’s Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan told lawmakers on Wednesday, Armenian state news agency Armenpress reported.
Health advice now reaches people through social media, fitness apps, wearable technology and AI. From detoxes and protein-focused diets to skincare and fitness trends, online wellness content is shaping everyday health choices while raising concerns about misinformation and potential risks.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment