US3 min(s) read
Published 08:02 07 May 2026 GMT
At least three US states are currently monitoring residents for suspected hantavirus after the outbreak on board the MV Hondius ship.
Three people have already died during this outbreak, and several other passengers have been airlifted to the Netherlands from the ship for medical treatment.
So far, the outbreak has resulted in three deaths, a couple from the Netherlands and a German national.
Eight other cases are currently known, including a man in Switzerland who left the boat some weeks ago.
Now, the US State Department is leading the response to the outbreak, and three states are known to be monitoring residents for suspected cases of the virus.
Despite this, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has stated that the risk to the general public is low as the virus is usually spread by infected rodents and spread from human to human is extremely rare.
However, it is working with local health authorities and in direct contact with the patients suspected of having contracted the virus.
So far, none of those being monitored have developed symptoms, officials said.
According to the World Health Organization, the outbreak was started on April 11 aboard the Dutch luxury cruise and expedition ship MV Hondius.
The deaths and cases are related to a particular strain of hantavirus, a rare family of viruses spread by rodents.
In 2023 - the latest year with available reporting - there were 26 cases of hantavirus, and there have been 890 cases reported in the USA since 1993 when tracking commenced.
The most high-profile recent case of a hantavirus in recent times was the death of Gene Hackman's wife Betsy last year.
At least three US states are currently monitoring potential cases of the virus - which has a high mortality rate -as the Georgia Department of Public Health said it was monitoring two residents.
It said they are ‘currently in good health and show no signs of infection’.
The state authority is following advice from the CDC at federal level.
In California, the Department of Public Health was told by the CDC that residents had been aboard the MV Hondius.
Robert Barsanti, spokesperson for the department, did not disclose how many patients were being monitored.
He said: “There is no information that the California residents are ill or infected,
“At this time, the risk to public health in California is low.”
In Arizona, the Department of Health Services were told that one resident in the state had been a passenger on the ship.
A spokesperson said: “This individual is not symptomatic and is being monitored.”
The MV Hondius cruise and expedition ship was left off Cape Verde on Wednesday, but will soon travel to the Canary Islands - controlled by Spain - where it will dock and passengers can be properly investigated and tested.
Several patients have already been airlifted to the Netherlands, with one alleged patient spotted being taken away on a gurney yesterday.
The 150 passenger ship will undergo evacuation upon arrival in the Canaries, which is expected in three to four days.
