Eighteen American passengers evacuated from a hantavirus-affected cruise ship sailing around South America are now under medical monitoring as health officials strive to contain the rare outbreak that has already resulted in three fatalities.
Monitoring and Symptoms
The evacuated individuals are among 122 people removed from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was anchored off Spain's Canary Islands. One American has tested mildly positive for the Andes hantavirus strain, while another exhibits mild symptoms. Other American passengers who have disembarked are asymptomatic. However, for those experiencing initial signs, the progression can be deceptive, often mimicking a severe cold before turning critical.
Compounding concerns, an Illinois resident who was not on the cruise is suspected of contracting hantavirus. The Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating a potential case in Winnebago County, with the CDC conducting additional testing. The individual is believed to have contracted the virus through contact with rodent droppings while cleaning a home, a typical exposure route. CDC test results may take up to 10 days, and the patient remains under strict observation.
Understanding Hantavirus
Hantaviruses typically cause symptoms one to eight weeks after exposure to infected rodents, according to the CDC. The Andes virus identified in the cruise outbreak is the only strain known to enable human-to-human transmission. Early symptoms of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome include fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, particularly in the thighs, hips, back, and shoulders. Four to ten days later, late-stage symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness emerge as the lungs fill with fluid, making the disease life-threatening. HPS can be deadly, with 38% of those developing respiratory symptoms potentially succumbing.
CDC Response and Global Impact
As of May 2026, the CDC has activated a Level 3 emergency response, its lowest level, in response to the outbreak. This alert facilitates coordinated public health monitoring and communication but does not indicate a widespread public threat. Three passengers aboard the MV Hondius have died: a Dutch couple and a German national. Overall, 11 cases have been reported among cruise passengers, with nine laboratory-confirmed by the WHO.
A French passenger evacuated on May 10 is in critical condition at a Paris hospital, initially misdiagnosed with anxiety. A British national hospitalized in Johannesburg is clinically improving but still ill. Fourteen Spanish passengers are quarantining in Madrid, while 26 were flown to the Netherlands, with eight Dutch passengers self-quarantining for six weeks. One German, one Japanese, and 20 British passengers are at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, England. Five Australians and one New Zealander arrived in the Netherlands on May 12 and are expected to return home for a 42-day quarantine.
Treatment and Precautions
There is no specific treatment or vaccine for hantavirus; patients receive supportive care, including rest, hydration, and symptom management. HPS patients may require intubation. Virologist Dr. Jay Hooper described the virus as infecting endothelial cells, causing blood vessel leakage. Health officials advise anyone with potential rodent exposure or close contact with a confirmed case who develops fever, muscle aches, or respiratory symptoms to seek immediate medical attention and mention the exposure. Early diagnosis is challenging, as initial testing within 72 hours may not detect the virus.
Survivor Stories
Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, a retired oncologist, helped care for sick passengers on the cruise and later tested positive for hantavirus. He is isolating in a biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, currently symptomless but cautious. He described the outbreak's chaos, noting the ship's doctor also fell ill. Texas father Cam Dockery, who survived hantavirus in 2005, recalled severe symptoms and a near-fatal experience, emphasizing the disease's rapid progression.
