Hantavirus Exposure Leads to Isolation of US Travellers
Posted On: 5/11/2026, 5:52:59 PM
Last Update: 5/11/2026, 5:52:59 PM
Federal health officials stated on Sunday that two of the seventeen Americans returning to the US aboard the cruise liner MV Hondius are being transported in biocontainment due to potential hantavirus exposure.
The Dutch-flagged cruise ship arrived in the Canary Islands after an outbreak resulted in three deaths among European passengers and several infections.
Of the approximately 150 passengers disembarking, 17 Americans are being transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Centre in Omaha for evaluation and monitoring.
During the flight, two passengers are being treated in biocontainment units as a precaution, according to the Department of Health and Human Services' social media post.
Two Americans Turned to Biocontainment
Officials reported that one passenger is showing mild symptoms, while another has tested mildly positive for the Andes virus via PCR.
The Andes strain is the sole hantavirus known to transmit between humans, primarily through contact with rodent droppings. Infections have an incubation period of several weeks, with a mortality rate estimated at around 40%.
Moreover, officials indicated that the group is anticipated to arrive early Monday. A symptomatic patient will be transported to a specialised treatment facility, while the remaining individuals will undergo screening.
Federal and state officials will hold a news conference at 9 a.m. Monday in Omaha.
7 Americans Have Already Returned
Georgia, California, Arizona, Virginia, and Texas are among the states where at least seven Americans who departed the ship earlier have returned.
Health officials in those states are keeping an eye on the travellers and have not yet reported any ailments.
Likewise, passengers showing no symptoms arriving in Nebraska may return home for self-monitoring, according to officials. A former CDC director advocates for mandatory quarantine.
Dr. Robert Redfield, former CDC director, recommended that returning passengers stay in quarantine for an extended period due to an incubation period of up to eight weeks. He expressed confidence that public health authorities can manage the virus effectively.
Spread Over Multiple Countries
The MV Hondius left Argentina on April 1, stopping at the South Sandwich Islands on April 5 and 6. A passenger showed symptoms shortly after this stop and died on April 11.
On April 24, 29 passengers from 12 countries disembarked, including the wife of the first victim, who later died on April 26 in Johannesburg, South Africa, after experiencing symptoms.
Furthermore, a second woman showed symptoms on April 28 and died on May 2. A third case involved a Swiss man who displayed symptoms after returning to Zurich on May 6 and is now in intensive care with a confirmed infection.
Subsequently, the WHO has advised a 42-day monitoring period for those potentially exposed to the virus.
