CDC updates hantavirus response as U.S. officials warn risk remains low but urge precautions after exposed travelers are monitored

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention activated an emergency response in early May 2026 after a hantavirus outbreak linked to the M/V Hondius cruise ship was reported, involving cases in multiple countries including the United States. Officials said the risk to the general public remains extremely low and emphasized that the response focused on precautionary monitoring of exposed travelers rather than evidence of domestic transmission.

The outbreak has been linked to the Andes virus, a type of hantavirus, officials said. The World Health Organization was first notified on May 2, 2026, of a cluster of severe acute respiratory illness among passengers and crew aboard the M/V Hondius cruise ship. WHO confirmed on May 6 that the virus involved was Andes virus and reported eight cases, including three deaths, as of May 8, according to CDC and WHO records. The CDC described the event as a multi-country hantavirus cluster involving international partners.

“WHO confirmed on May 6 that the virus involved was Andes virus and reported eight cases, including three deaths, as of May 8, according to CDC and WHO records.”

CDC officials emphasized that there is no evidence of broad spread in the United States at this time. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a CDC spokesperson, said there are currently no hantavirus cases reported in the U.S. The agency framed its response as precautionary monitoring of exposed travelers rather than evidence of domestic transmission. “The risk to the general public remains extremely low,” CDC officials said.

The CDC activated its emergency response in Atlanta immediately after the outbreak was reported. More than 100 CDC staff have been involved in the response, according to agency and media reports. On May 7, a CDC team was deployed to the Canary Islands to assist on site, where they interviewed each U.S. citizen about their potential exposure, officials said. The agency has coordinated with federal, state, local, and international health partners throughout the response.

American passengers who may have been exposed are being closely monitored. The CDC and its partners are tracking travelers for the virus’s incubation period, which can extend up to 42 days. Repatriated Americans were sent to a specialized medical facility in Nebraska for observation, officials confirmed. Monitoring also includes individuals potentially exposed on an aircraft by an infected cruise ship passenger. Reports indicate that 41 people across 16 states are currently under observation for possible exposure.

Prior to the repatriation of American citizens, the CDC issued a Health Alert Network advisory and posted a suite of resources on its website, including a toolkit, frequently asked questions, a situation overview, and a fact sheet. The agency has warned clinicians to be aware of possible imported cases and has alerted public health agencies, laboratories, and healthcare professionals nationwide as a precaution, according to CDC communications. Officials stressed that these measures are precautionary despite the low risk to the public.

The outbreak has resulted in multiple fatalities. The CDC’s Health Alert Network initially reported two deaths and one critically ill passenger at the time of notification. WHO’s subsequent update on May 8 confirmed eight total cases, including three deaths. Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of hantavirus in the cluster, specifically identifying the Andes virus as the cause.

Hantavirus disease has been monitored in the United States since 1993. According to CDC surveillance data, 890 cases had been reported nationwide as of the end of 2023. Of these, 859 were hantavirus pulmonary syndrome cases, while 31 involved non-pulmonary hantavirus infections. The CDC continues to track these cases through its ongoing surveillance program.