image sourced from original article at The Health Ministry has reported that there are currently no confirmed cases of hantavirus in Israel. Although there was an unconfirmed report of a patient returning from Europe with the virus in December 2025, medical officials say they are not aware of any recent cases in the country.
Dr. Daniel Grupel of Hadassah Hospital stated that the strain identified aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius is a New World hantavirus, which differs from the type typically found in Europe. He explained that the New World strain can spread between humans and is considered more severe, while the European variant is generally transmitted from rodents to humans.
According to the World Health Organization, seven cases have been identified on the ship, including three deaths, one critically ill patient, and three individuals with mild symptoms. Despite the situation aboard the vessel, which is heading to the Canary Islands, health experts say there is no reason for concern among the general public in Israel.
