Health Ministry: One Passenger from 'Hantavirus' Cruise Ship MV Hondius Resides in Indonesia
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Indonesia’s Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has revealed that one passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship, where the first hantavirus case spread, resides in Indonesia.
Acting Director General of Disease Control and Prevention at Kemenkes, Dr Andi Saguni, stated that vigilance was heightened after Indonesia received a notification from the International Health Regulation National Focal Point (IHR NFP) in the UK regarding a foreign national (WNA) with initials KE who resides in Jakarta. This foreign national is a close contact of the positive hantavirus case on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
“On 7 May 2026 at 21:55 WIB, the IHR NFP in the UK notified Indonesia about one close contact residing in Indonesia,” said Andi during an online press conference on Monday (11/5/2026).
He explained that the 60-year-old male foreign national had stayed in the same hotel and taken the same flight as the 69-year-old female patient who later died from hantavirus. This close contact disembarked the ship in Saint Helena and continued his journey to Johannesburg, South Africa, before returning to Indonesia.
Kemenkes, according to Andi, immediately conducted an epidemiological investigation one day after receiving the notification. The results showed that the foreign national exhibited no symptoms of hantavirus. PCR tests from five specimens—serum, urine, saliva, throat swab, and complete blood—also returned negative results.
“The good news is that the PCR test results are negative for hantavirus. This close contact lives alone, has no communication with others, and has a good understanding of the situation,” said Andi.
Although the results are negative, Kemenkes continues to monitor and quarantine the individual at the Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital (RSPI). The government is also coordinating with the WHO, the Jakarta Health Office, and health laboratories to ensure tight oversight.
Andi emphasised that Indonesia has strengthened its surveillance system at entry points through 51 Health Quarantine Stations (BKK). Surveillance is conducted using thermal scanners, visual observations, and the All Indonesia application for international travellers.
Additionally, Kemenkes is optimising emerging infectious disease surveillance in 21 sentinel hospitals to detect potential similar cases. The government has also prepared a network of laboratories capable of PCR testing and whole genome sequencing.
In his presentation, Andi explained that hantavirus has around 50 strains, 24 of which can infect humans. However, the strain previously found in Banten was only detected in rats and no transmission to humans has been found in Indonesia.
“There has been no transmission from rats to humans in Indonesia,” said Andi.
Andi urged the public to maintain environmental cleanliness and practise clean and healthy living behaviours (PHBS) to prevent hantavirus transmission. The public is also advised to avoid direct contact with rats or their droppings and to seek immediate medical attention if experiencing suspicious symptoms.