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Hantavirus updates: Canadian cruise ship passenger tests positive for hantavirus 

PHOTO: The cruise ship MV Hondius leaves Praia, Cape Verde, May 6, 2026.
1:35
Stringer/Reuters
Officials tracking at least 41 Americans after deadly hantavirus outbreak
By Christopher Watson, Ivan Pereira, Jon Haworth, Mary Kekatos, Nadine El-Bawab, Leah Sarnoff, Kevin Shalvey
Last Updated: May 8, 2026, 8:44 AM

The total number of confirmed and probable cases of hantavirus of those who were onboard the MV Hondius cruise ship stands at 11, including two people confirmed to have died from the virus and one person who remains suspected to have died from the virus.

No cases of Andes hantavirus have been confirmed in the U.S. The eighteen American ship passengers are being monitored at the quarantine unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Key Headlines

  • Canadian cruise ship passenger tests positive for hantavirus
  • Health officials in Washington state tracking hantavirus case unrelated to cruise ship
  • 2 cruise ship passengers originally in Atlanta now at Nebraska quarantine facility
  • Suspected hantavirus case at upstate New York high school, not linked to cruise ship
  • US has no cases of Andes hantavirus
Here's how the news is developing.

Pinned
May 08, 2026 5:17 PM

What is hantavirus and how does it spread?

Here's what you need to know about hantavirus including what it is, how it spreads, how it's treated and if there are any prevention methods:

What is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause serious illnesses and death, according to the CDC.

PHOTO: Stock photo of a colorized electron micrograph of the Hantavirus.
Alfred Pasieka/Science Photo Lib/STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images
Stock photo of a colorized electron micrograph of the Hantavirus.
Alfred Pasieka/Science Photo Lib/STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images

How does hantavirus spread?

Hantaviruses may also spread from person to person, but that also is rare and only suspected for one subtype from South America, according to the WHO.

Read more about hantavirus here.


Pinned
May 11, 2026 2:57 PM

15 in quarantine, 1 in biocontainment unit in Nebraska; 2 in Atlanta

Fifteen passengers were welcomed to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s quarantine unit Monday morning and one person who tested positive is in the biocontainment unit, according to officials.

The quarantine unit is more like a hotel, while the biocontainment unit is patient-based care, more like a hospital, officials said.

The 15 passengers at the quarantine unit are in “good spirits,” the unit’s medical director, Dr. Mike Waldman, said.

PHOTO: Journalists work with the Dutch flagged hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius in the background in the port of Granadilla de Abona on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on May 11, 2026.
Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images
Journalists work with the Dutch flagged hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius in the background in the port of Granadilla de Abona on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on May 11, 2026.
Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images

“We’ve been doing symptom monitoring, as well as temperature checks," he said. "Everyone here is asymptomatic and ... do not have a temperature at this time. They're all resting now and we'll do further assessments later in the day, once they've had a chance to sleep."

The one person in the biocontainment unit is doing well and does not have symptoms, but is “very tired” after a “really long journey,” officials said.

The 15 in the quarantine unit will have the option to stay in Nebraska at the quarantine center for the entire 42-day monitoring period, or go home to monitor symptoms, in coordination with their state and local health departments, officials said. This will be based on whether they develop symptoms, have a support structure at home to quarantine and can contact their health department, officials said.

Besides the 16 cruise ship passengers in Nebraska, two cruise ship passengers -- who are a couple -- were flown to Atlanta “for further assessment and care," officials said. At least one of the two in Atlanta had symptoms, officials said.

PHOTO: The Dutch flagged hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius is refueled by a tanker in the port of Granadilla de Abona on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on May 11, 2026.
Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images
The Dutch flagged hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius is refueled by a tanker in the port of Granadilla de Abona on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on May 11, 2026.
Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images


The two patients in Atlanta "are under medical evaluation" at Emory University’s Serious Communicable Diseases Unit, officials said, noting that their transfer there was "contingency planning."

"That means, if we're on it, since there was symptoms involved, they want to make sure that if they turn out to actually have the hantavirus, that it makes sure that the biocontainment unit here that provides medical care doesn't take up too much space, in case it's needed by the other passengers who are currently here in the more residential section," officials said.

The Georgia Department of Public Health said, "There is no risk to the public at this time. ... DPH is also remaining actively in communication with the CDC and other partners and will continue to do so for as long as necessary as we monitor each development in the coming days and weeks.”


May 08, 2026 8:44 AM

UK says 'British national on Tristan da Cunha' tests positive

The United Kingdom's Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced on Friday morning there is “an additional suspected case of a British national on Tristan da Cunha,” while a Dutch KLM flight attendant who was thought to have it has tested negative for Hantavirus, officials said.

The total case suspected count remains at 12 after these latest developments.

UKHSA also said that “All British passengers and crew on board the MV Hondius will be asked to isolate for 45 days upon returning to the UK and UKHSA will closely monitor these individuals, with testing as required.”

-ABC News' Zoe Magee


May 08, 2026 3:29 AM

CDC classifies outbreak as 'Level 3' emergency response -- lowest level of emergency activation

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its Emergency Operations Centers and has classified the hantavirus outbreak as "Level 3," multiple sources told ABC News.

That's the lowest level of emergency activation and is typical for this stage. It signifies the risk to the general public remains low, but the situation is being actively monitored by the public health agency.

Activating the Emergency Operation Centers indicates that an emergency team has been set up to support a response. Epidemiologists, scientists and physicians may have been re-assigned from their typical roles to assist with the response.

-ABC News' Youri Benadjaoud


May 08, 2026 3:05 AM

Cruise passenger gives update as ship makes way to Canary Islands

One of the passengers aboard the cruise ship at the center of a cluster of hantavirus cases, says other passengers aboard the MV Hondius ship are remaining calm and keeping their spirits up.

In a statement provided to ABC News, passenger Kasem Ibn Hattuta said several doctors are now on board, which he said is reassuring to passengers, who are wearing masks and keeping their distance inside the ship.

"The vibe on the ship might’ve been calm with a bit of concern because we were worried about the sick ones, but now it doesn’t feel different than any of the other sea days we had before," he said in the statement. "Everyone is keeping high spirit[s], people are smiling and taking the situation calmly."

PHOTO: The MV Hondius cruise ship departs the port in Praia, Cape Verde, May 6, 2026.
Misper Apawu/AP
The MV Hondius cruise ship departs the port in Praia, Cape Verde, May 6, 2026.
Misper Apawu/AP

The statement went on to say: "We had several doctors join us on the ship before departing Cape Verde, which was also reassuring as we now have specialists on board, no one currently has any hanta related symptoms and we hope it continues this way."

He said passengers are free to share whatever they like online but some passengers have chosen not to post anything publicly because they want to maintain their privacy.



May 08, 2026 1:58 AM

Trump on hantavirus: 'It should be fine'

President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on Thursday evening, said he has been briefed about the hantavirus cases tied to the MV Hondius cruise ship.

"It should be fine. We hope," Trump said.

He indicated his administration would be issuing a "full report" on Friday, but did not provide any further details.

“It's very much -- we hope -- under control. It was the ship, and I think we're going to make a full report about it tomorrow," Trump said. "We have a lot of people, a lot of great people, are studying it."

Asked if Americans should be concerned the virus may spread, Trump said: "I hope not. I mean, I hope not. We’ll do the best we can."


May 11, 2026 2:57 PM

15 in quarantine, 1 in biocontainment unit in Nebraska; 2 in Atlanta

Fifteen passengers were welcomed to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s quarantine unit Monday morning and one person who tested positive is in the biocontainment unit, according to officials.

The quarantine unit is more like a hotel, while the biocontainment unit is patient-based care, more like a hospital, officials said.

The 15 passengers at the quarantine unit are in “good spirits,” the unit’s medical director, Dr. Mike Waldman, said.

PHOTO: Journalists work with the Dutch flagged hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius in the background in the port of Granadilla de Abona on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on May 11, 2026.
Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images
Journalists work with the Dutch flagged hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius in the background in the port of Granadilla de Abona on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on May 11, 2026.
Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images

“We’ve been doing symptom monitoring, as well as temperature checks," he said. "Everyone here is asymptomatic and ... do not have a temperature at this time. They're all resting now and we'll do further assessments later in the day, once they've had a chance to sleep."

The one person in the biocontainment unit is doing well and does not have symptoms, but is “very tired” after a “really long journey,” officials said.

The 15 in the quarantine unit will have the option to stay in Nebraska at the quarantine center for the entire 42-day monitoring period, or go home to monitor symptoms, in coordination with their state and local health departments, officials said. This will be based on whether they develop symptoms, have a support structure at home to quarantine and can contact their health department, officials said.

Besides the 16 cruise ship passengers in Nebraska, two cruise ship passengers -- who are a couple -- were flown to Atlanta “for further assessment and care," officials said. At least one of the two in Atlanta had symptoms, officials said.

PHOTO: The Dutch flagged hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius is refueled by a tanker in the port of Granadilla de Abona on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on May 11, 2026.
Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images
The Dutch flagged hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius is refueled by a tanker in the port of Granadilla de Abona on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on May 11, 2026.
Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images


The two patients in Atlanta "are under medical evaluation" at Emory University’s Serious Communicable Diseases Unit, officials said, noting that their transfer there was "contingency planning."

"That means, if we're on it, since there was symptoms involved, they want to make sure that if they turn out to actually have the hantavirus, that it makes sure that the biocontainment unit here that provides medical care doesn't take up too much space, in case it's needed by the other passengers who are currently here in the more residential section," officials said.

The Georgia Department of Public Health said, "There is no risk to the public at this time. ... DPH is also remaining actively in communication with the CDC and other partners and will continue to do so for as long as necessary as we monitor each development in the coming days and weeks.”


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