The American passengers from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak are being monitored by U.S. health officials.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: More than a dozen American passengers from a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak have been quarantined at medical facilities in the United States. 📰 DETAIL: On April 1, 2026, The MV Hondius, a Dutch-registered cruise ship, departed from Ushuaia, a city in southern Argentina. Between April 6 and April 28, a number of passengers became sick, with the first reported death on April 11. On May 2, an outbreak of hantavirus was officially reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). Hantavirus is carried by rodents and there are currently no targeted treatments or widely available vaccines. Consequently, the 18 American passengers have been put into quarantine. Sixteen of the passengers are being monitored at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, while the other two passengers are at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. One of the passengers has been placed in biocontainment due to testing positive for the Andes virus, a hantavirus subtype. The passengers reportedly range from their late 20s to their 80s. Early symptoms typically include fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, especially in the larger muscles of the hips, thighs, and back. Hantavirus symptoms typically occur between one and eight weeks after exposure. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “The risk of hantavirus to the general public remains very, very low,” said Admiral Brian Christine, Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 🎯 IMPACT: The quarantine measures aim to prevent the spread of the virus, with medical officials closely monitoring the condition of the passengers. Depending on individual assessments, passengers may be allowed to continue their quarantine at home. |
Image by AcfiPress Noticias Canarias.
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