Hantavirus-Exposed Americans Return to U.S. — Why Experts Say Your Risk Is Low

Eighteen American passengers from the expedition cruise ship *m/v Hondius* were repatriated to the U.S. on May 10 after a hantavirus outbreak, with two placed in biocontainment units in Omaha and Atlanta. One passenger tested positive for the virus, while another showed mild symptoms, prompting precautionary measures by U.S. health officials. The Dutch-flagged ship departed from southern Argentina on April 1 with 150 passengers and crew for an Atlantic voyage. Eleven days later, a 70-year-old man died after developing hantavirus symptoms, marking the first of three confirmed deaths—two Dutch nationals and one German. As of May 12, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 11 confirmed cases linked to the ship, with all remaining passengers disembarked and repatriated. Experts attribute the outbreak to the Andes virus strain, typically rodent-borne but capable of rare human-to-human transmission in confined spaces. The WHO and U.S. health agencies are monitoring the situation, stressing that the risk of a pandemic remains low despite concerns over the ship’s conditions. The *m/v Hondius* operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, confirmed all passengers had disembarked by May 11, with international health officials continuing investigations. Epidemiologists, including Tulane University’s Lina Moses, noted the outbreak underscores the need for vigilance but dismissed fears of widespread spread, citing effective monitoring and containment efforts. Hantavirus typically spreads through rodent urine or droppings, but the Andes strain has documented cases of human transmission. Health officials emphasize that while the situation is serious, the virus’s behavior does not suggest a COVID-like global threat. The U.S. State Department coordinated the airlift from Tenerife, with patients treated at specialized pathogen centers in Nebraska and Georgia.