{"id":2627,"date":"2026-05-10T08:46:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T11:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalmedicalpost.com\/blog\/hantavirus-outbreak-cruise-ship-prompts\/"},"modified":"2026-05-10T08:46:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T11:46:26","slug":"hantavirus-outbreak-cruise-ship-prompts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalmedicalpost.com\/blog\/hantavirus-outbreak-cruise-ship-prompts\/","title":{"rendered":"Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship Prompts Oncologist to Intervene"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"medical-disclaimer\" style=\"border-left:4px solid #d97706;background:#fef3c7;padding:12px 16px;margin:16px 0;font-size:0.92em;color:#78350f;border-radius:4px\"><strong>&#9888; <\/strong><span>This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.<\/span><\/aside>\n<p>An American oncologist who became the <a href=\"https:\/\/naturalmedicalpost.com\/blog\/norovirus-outbreak-cruise-ship-sickens\/\"><strong>cruise ship<\/strong><\/a>&#8216;s de facto head doctor spoke to ABC News about a hantavirus outbreak. After the doctor on the cruise ship MV Hondius contracted the hantavirus, one American doctor onboard jumped into action to help passengers navigate the outbreak.<\/p>\n<h2>Oncologist Takes Charge<\/h2>\n<p>Stephen Kornfeld, an oncologist from Bend, Oregon, told ABC News that he quickly realized he was leading the response to a full-blown medical crisis on board the cruise ship. Dr. Steve Kornfeld is shown in this undated file photo. Dr. Kornfeld spoke with ABC News while aboard the M\/V Hondius. The ship&#8217;s unidentified doctor was among the six people onboard who tested positive for the virus.<\/p>\n<h2>First Death and Worsening Cases<\/h2>\n<p>One passenger, who had a probable case, died onboard. Kornfeld said that within 24 hours after he stepped in, one of the patients died and the other two were getting progressively sicker, and then the first news of hantavirus came out. The ship&#8217;s doctor and a ship&#8217;s guide who tested positive are under isolation in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n<h2>Hospitalizations and Fatalities<\/h2>\n<p>A British man who tested positive is hospitalized in South Africa. A Swiss man who tested positive is hospitalized in Switzerland. A Dutch woman who tested positive died on April 26 in South Africa. A German woman who tested positive died on May 2.<\/p>\n<h2>American Passengers Safe<\/h2>\n<p>None of the 17 Americans onboard the boat have tested positive for the virus as of Saturday afternoon. The boat is slated to arrive at the Canary Islands Sunday morning where the passengers will disembark and be flown back to their home countries.<\/p>\n<h2>Teamwork Amid Crisis<\/h2>\n<p>Kornfeld, who went bird watching while on the cruise, told ABC News that the whole ship came together to get through the crisis. Kornfeld said that there were a lot of people helping and working, and it really felt like a team. Kornfeld said that these people have started to become my family.<\/p>\n<h2>Doctor&#8217;s Health and Relief<\/h2>\n<p>The doctor said that while he is feeling a little vulnerable he is in good health. Kornfeld said that days have gone by and nobody&#8217;s having symptoms, and he knows very soon he will have access to very, very good medical care, which is a sense of relief.<\/p>\n<section class=\"faq-section\">\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Who became the de facto head doctor on the MV Hondius during the hantavirus outbreak?<\/h3>\n<p>Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, an American oncologist from Bend, Oregon, became the de facto head doctor after the ship&#8217;s doctor contracted hantavirus.<\/p>\n<h3>How many people onboard the MV Hondius tested positive for hantavirus, and what were the outcomes?<\/h3>\n<p>Six people tested positive, including the ship&#8217;s doctor. One passenger with a probable case died onboard. Additionally, a Dutch woman died on April 26 in South Africa, and a German woman died on May 2.<\/p>\n<h3>Did any of the 17 American passengers on the MV Hondius test positive for hantavirus?<\/h3>\n<p>No, none of the 17 Americans onboard tested positive for the virus as of Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsbot-related-posts\">\n<h2>Read Also<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/naturalmedicalpost.com\/blog\/hantavirus-cruise-passengers-texas-residents\/\"><strong>Hantavirus Cruise Passengers Are Texas Residents<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/naturalmedicalpost.com\/blog\/norovirus-outbreak-cruise-ship-sickens\/\"><strong>Norovirus Outbreak Sickens 115 on Cruise Ship: CDC Reports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/naturalmedicalpost.com\/blog\/hantavirus-human-transmission-possible-cruise\/\"><strong>Hantavirus Human Transmission Possible on Cruise Ship: WHO<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<h2>Source<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Health\/american-oncologist-cruise-ships-de-facto-head-doctor\/story?id=132815895\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">abcnews.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<section class=\"author-box\" style=\"border:1px solid #e5e7eb;background:#f9fafb;padding:16px 20px;margin:24px 0;border-radius:6px;font-size:0.95em;color:#1f2937\">\n<h3 style=\"margin:0 0 8px 0;font-size:1.05em;color:#111827\">About the author<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 6px 0\"><strong>Natural Medical Post Editorial Team<\/strong> &mdash; <em>Health &amp; Wellness Research Team<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0\">Our editorial team reviews health and wellness topics based on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An American oncologist, Stephen Kornfeld, became the de facto head doctor on the MV Hondius after the ship&#8217;s doctor contracted hantavirus. He spoke to ABC News about the outbreak, which led to multiple deaths and hospitalizations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2629,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_newsbot_seo_title":"Hantavirus Outbreak Cruise Ship: Oncologist Steps In","_newsbot_seo_description":"An American oncologist became the de facto head doctor on a cruise ship after a hantavirus outbreak. 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