Topline
Health experts are raising alarm regarding the United States’ preparedness for a potential hantavirus outbreak. Concerns heightened after it was disclosed that numerous cruise ship passengers returned to the U.S. unaware of the presence of this contagious and potentially lethal virus aboard.
This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 4, 2026.
AFP via Getty Images
Timeline
Speaking to reporters outside at the Lincoln Memorial, Trump addressed the hantavirus outbreak, stating: “It’s very much, we hope, under control…We have a lot of people, a lot of great people studying it.”
When asked if Americans should be worried, he remarked, “I hope not…we’ll do the best we can.”
Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, CEO of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, expressed concerns that the United States is “not prepared” for a hantavirus outbreak, a predicament stemming from budget cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and USAID during the Trump administration, along with the country’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization.
Doctors have disputed an online claim suggesting that ivermectin, mainly used as a dewormer for livestock, could be an effective treatment for hantavirus.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the MV Hondius, reported that at least 29 passengers from 12 different countries left the ship after a passenger succumbed onboard, prior to the outbreak’s confirmation. These countries include Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Texas health officials are currently monitoring two residents—who are showing no symptoms—who were passengers on the MV Hondius, which is linked to the cases.
California health officials are supervising an undisclosed number of residents who were onboard the MV Hondius, affirming that those being monitored currently show no signs of illness or infection. Similar monitoring actions are being taken by health officials in Arizona and Georgia for a total of three residents, all remaining in good health.
WHO Director Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus stated that some passengers shared a flight to Johannesburg with a woman from the ship who later passed away.
Ghebreyesus asserted that while remaining passengers and crew members aboard the MV Hondius are asymptomatic, “it is possible more cases will be reported,” as symptoms can take up to six weeks to manifest in individuals infected with the Andes variant of hantavirus. He emphasized that the public health risk remains “low.”
A Dutch flight attendant exhibiting mild symptoms is undergoing testing for the disease following brief contact with one of the deceased hantavirus patients.
An international team of researchers is actively working on developing a vaccine for hantavirus, as reported by the BBC.
The CDC reportedly informed employees that Luis Rodríguez, the American official responsible for public health on cruise ships, is retiring. No details have been provided regarding his replacement.
Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemic expert, remarked, “This is not the next COVID, but it is a serious infectious disease. Most people will never be exposed to this.”
The World Health Organization confirmed the rise of lab-proven hantavirus cases to five, with at least three additional suspected cases reported among cruise ship passengers and crew members.
Argentine officials suggested that the hantavirus outbreak may have originated from a bird-watching excursion that led the deceased couple to a landfill where they could have encountered rodents carrying the virus prior to boarding the ship, according to the Associated Press.
Health officials confirmed that the hantavirus outbreak is linked to a specific strain known as Andes, regarded as one of the deadliest variants of hantavirus and the only known strain capable of person-to-person transmission.
Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia stated that the MV Hondius is on its way to the Granadilla port in Tenerife, Canary Islands, where passengers will be permitted to disembark by May 11. Spanish citizens and those exhibiting symptoms will undergo quarantine, while asymptomatic individuals from other countries will be sent home.
Three individuals, including two in “serious” condition, were evacuated from the MV Hondius and flown to the Netherlands via air ambulance.
A man who traveled on a previous leg of the ship’s journey before returning to Switzerland has been hospitalized in Zurich with a strain of hantavirus. This marks the first reported case of illness linked to the MV Hondius after returning to the mainland, prompting authorities to initiate contact tracing.
The South African Department of Health confirmed that tests conducted on infected passengers from the MV Hondius identified the Andes virus, known for its high fatality rate of about 40%, as the cause of infection among the ship’s passengers.
The World Health Organization confirmed that a strain of hantavirus is spreading aboard the ship, with two cases validated by labs and five more suspected cases.
Cape Verdean authorities declined to allow the MV Hondius to dock at Praia, stating that this decision was made to safeguard public health.
A German passenger died aboard the MV Hondius.
A British passenger was medically evacuated to South Africa for treatment in an intensive care unit for a confirmed variant of hantavirus.
The wife of the first victim died in Johannesburg after collapsing at Johannesburg airport. She was confirmed to carry a strain of hantavirus.
A 70-year-old Dutch man died aboard the MV Hondius, with his body being removed nearly two weeks later; the cause of death remains under investigation, according to the New York Times.
The MV Hondius set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina.
Crucial Quote
“It’s been quite a mammoth effort,” professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at the UK Health Security Agency, remarked about the extensive contact tracing efforts for the ship’s passengers. “We will continue to do that if other information arises.”
Where Is The MV Hondius?
As of Thursday, the vessel is navigating off the coast of West Africa, heading toward the Canary Islands. Passengers are isolating in their cabins while medical teams equipped with protective gear are on board.
Big Number
Almost 150 individuals are currently aboard the MV Hondius. This total includes people from 23 different countries, comprising 17 Americans.
Key Background
The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1 with its course set for the Canary Islands, visiting some of the most secluded islands in the world along the way. The ship halted in locations like Antarctica, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena (where the body of the Dutch man was taken off the ship), and Ascension Island, from where the British passenger was medically evacuated. The ship then sought to dock at the port of Praia in Cape Verde but was denied clearance. Currently, there are three confirmed cases and five suspected cases linked to the ongoing outbreak, with three fatalities reported.
Tangent
A passenger who was on the MV Hondius before disembarking several weeks into the journey shared with the BBC that the cruise ship operator “didn’t inform us about any potential viruses” following the death of the first passenger amid the outbreak. Ruhi Cenet, a Turkish YouTuber, expressed dissatisfaction with the communication during the crisis, stating that despite being aboard for a prolonged period after the man’s death, passengers were assured that he was “not infectious,” which led to a lack of health precautions among those onboard. “We were together in the lecture rooms. We were all together during breakfast, lunch and dinner. I’m discussing over 100 passengers. People were socializing, they were sitting side by side,” Cenet recounted regarding life on the ship. The operator stated that they could not inform passengers sooner as they were unaware of the cause of death and believed it was an isolated incident.
What Is The Andes Hantavirus?
Andes is the only hantavirus strain recognized to transmit from person to person. Typically, individuals contract hantavirus through contact with rodents like rats and mice, primarily through exposure to their urine, droppings, saliva, or occasionally through bites or scratches. However, officials assert that no rodents have been detected on the MV Hondius. The Andes strain is found in South America, particularly Argentina and Chile, and person-to-person transmission has only been noted with close and prolonged contact during the earlier stages of illness, when the virus is more contagious. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hantavirus symptoms typically appear within one to two weeks, although they can take up to eight weeks in some instances. The agency indicates that the risk to the broader public is considered “low,” and that the transmission of the Andes virus remains very low when appropriate infection prevention and control measures are implemented.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses lead to two main syndromes: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, primarily found in the Western Hemisphere, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, commonly seen in Europe and Asia. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome typically initiates with fatigue, fever, muscle aches, abdominal discomfort, headaches, chills, and dizziness, while more severe symptoms can follow, such as chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath, and fluid accumulation in the lungs, with a mortality rate of approximately 38% among those who experience respiratory symptoms. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome impacts the kidneys and can cause a range of symptoms, including blurred vision, low blood pressure, acute shock, internal bleeding, and renal failure. The severity of the disease varies with the specific strain of hantavirus, resulting in mortality rates that range from less than 1% to 15%.
How Is Hantavirus Treated?
Currently, there is no specific treatment for hantavirus infections; instead, patients typically receive supportive care that includes supplemental oxygen for respiratory problems and dialysis for kidney failure.
Surprising Fact
Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, tragically passed away from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in February 2025 at the age of 65.
