Ever because the world recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, any viral outbreak tends to cause concern. Now that a hantavirus outbreak — specifically the Andes virus — has been discovered on a cruise ship, Americans are concerned that any infected passengers could spread it. So, is the virus within the U.S.?
Below, learn in regards to the 2026 outbreak of hantavirus and what it means for Americans.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rare and potentially fatal virus. If an individual contracts the disease, it could possibly cause serious conditions, with essentially the most common being hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which normally begins with flu-like symptoms before it develops into severe respiratory issues.
BREAKING: The pinnacle of the World Health Organisation says eight cases of the hantavirus have been reported – that is five confirmed and three suspected cases.https://t.co/GFhZZwiCcE
📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/tHYnNzqRnb
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 7, 2026
Though hantavirus cases are rare, people world wide are still concerned in regards to the recent discovery aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.
Last yr, Gene Hackman‘s late wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. She was 65.
Is There a Hantavirus Vaccine?
No. There isn’t a FDA-approved hantavirus vaccine.
“Hantaviruses are a gaggle of viruses carried by rodents that could cause severe disease in humans.
Individuals are normally infected through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings or saliva.
The species of hantavirus involved on this case is the Andes virus – which is…
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 7, 2026
Is the Hantavirus Contagious? The way it Spreads
Hantavirus normally spreads through direct contact with infected rodent fluids, similar to urine, droppings or saliva, in keeping with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It could also spread through a scratch or a bite from a rodent, per the CDC, though it’s rare, or if an individual breathes in contaminated air from the rodent droppings.
Nonetheless, the Andes Hantavirus is thought for possibly transmitting from individual to individual. One of these virus is primarily present in Chile and Argentina, which is where the MV Hondius cruise ship got here from.
Is the Hantavirus within the U.S.?
Basically, yes — hantavirus cases have been present throughout the U.S. for years. Most cases within the Western Hemisphere are hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
As of May 2026, a handful of American passengers who were on board the MV Hondius are being monitored for hantavirus symptoms.
Based on NBC News reporting, passengers who disembarked from the cruise ship traveled back to Texas, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia and California.
Is There a Hantavirus Epidemic?
No. On the time of publication, the WHO has not declared this outbreak of hantavirus an epidemic. During a May 2026 WHO briefing, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove emphasized that hantavirus is different from coronaviruses, specifically SARS-CoV-2, which we experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I need to be unequivocal here: this will not be SARS-CoV-2. This will not be the beginning of a COVID pandemic,” she said. “That is an outbreak that we see on a ship (and) there’s a confined area. … But this will not be the identical situation we were in six years ago.”