Americans Exposed to Hantavirus Remain in Federal Quarantine

The 18 Americans who were aboard the virus-stricken MV Hondius cruise ship remain under federal quarantine as health officials continue testing and monitoring for symptoms linked to the Andes strain of hantavirus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, passengers are being encouraged to remain in quarantine for the full 42-day incubation period, which officially began Monday after they disembarked from the ship.

CDC continues exposure investigations

Health officials said investigators are still determining how closely passengers were exposed to the virus while aboard the cruise ship.

Dr. David Fitter, who is leading the CDC’s hantavirus response, said interviews with passengers are ongoing and are expected to continue through at least Thursday.

“Currently, there are no state or federal quarantine orders that have been drawn,” Fitter said during a Wednesday briefing.

Officials said the goal is to work with passengers individually to determine the safest place for them to complete monitoring.

One symptomatic passenger tests negative

Two passengers have undergone testing for the Andes strain, the only hantavirus strain known to spread from person to person.

One passenger who developed symptoms and was transferred to Emory University Hospital tested negative for the virus.

Meanwhile, another passenger who had initially been isolated in the biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center was later cleared to move into standard quarantine housing.

Passenger Dr. Stephen Kornfeld told CNN he initially received a “faintly positive” test result before later testing negative.

Home monitoring underway across multiple states

At least seven Americans who left the cruise ship earlier are currently isolating at home in several states while health departments continue monitoring them for symptoms.

The CDC said passengers quarantining at home may be asked to:

• Wear N95 masks
• Remain separated from other household members
• Conduct regular symptom monitoring

Officials declined to specify how many additional contacts are being monitored nationwide due to privacy concerns.

Global hantavirus cases rise to 11

As of Wednesday:

• 11 hantavirus cases have been reported globally
• 8 cases have been confirmed
• All infections are linked to passengers or crew aboard the MV Hondius

No Americans have received a confirmed positive diagnosis so far.

Three people connected to the outbreak have died, including a Dutch couple believed to have been exposed during travel in South America before boarding the cruise ship.

Andes hantavirus spreads differently

The outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, which differs from most hantavirus infections because it can spread between humans.

However, experts continue stressing that transmission remains extremely rare.

Most infections occur after people inhale particles contaminated by rodent urine or droppings.

Scientists say public risk remains low

Health officials emphasized that large outbreaks remain uncommon.

Research estimates suggest only about 2% to 5% of Andes hantavirus cases result from person-to-person spread.

Scientists are still studying whether close-contact environments like cruise ships could increase transmission risks.

The CDC currently recommends testing only for people who:

• Were exposed to the virus
• Develop symptoms consistent with infection

Officials also confirmed that both blood tests and PCR tests for the Andes strain are now available for monitoring purposes.

Cruise ship outbreak sparks international concern

The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has drawn global attention because cruise ships have never previously been linked to a hantavirus outbreak.

The incident has reignited concerns about infectious disease spread in enclosed travel environments years after the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped global health responses.