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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, 2:06 PM

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 15, 2026 7:08 PM

US has no cases of Andes hantavirus

The U.S. currently has no cases of the Andes hantavirus, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at a briefing Friday.

The Andes version of hantavirus does not pass easily between people, and requires close, prolonged exposure, said the CDC’s incident manager for hantavirus, Dr. David Fitter. The CDC only recommends testing symptomatic people, Fitter said.

He said anyone with high-risk exposure should follow strict quarantine protocols. He classified high-risk exposure as anyone who was still on the cruise ship between May 5 and May 10, as well as anyone who had close, prolonged contact with someone who has Andes hantavirus, including sitting on a plane near someone with hantavirus.

PHOTO: A boat sails beside the cruise ship, MV Hondius, hit by Hantavirus as it is anchored off Cape Verde port, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, May 5, 2026.
Reuters TV via Reuters
A boat sails beside the cruise ship, MV Hondius, hit by Hantavirus as it is anchored off Cape Verde port, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, May 5, 2026.
Reuters TV via Reuters


CDC officials said they will not offer any updates on the conditions of the 16 cruise ship passengers currently in quarantine in Nebraska, including if they are currently symptomatic, citing privacy.

-ABC News’ Eric Strauss


May 08, 2026 2:06 PM

New hantavirus case reported in Spain

A woman in the Spanish province of Alicante has tested positive for a hantavirus infection, secretary of state for health, Javier Padilla, told reporters on Friday, according to Reuters.

PHOTO: The cruise ship MV Hondius leaves Praia, Cape Verde, May 6, 2026.
Stringer/Reuters
The cruise ship MV Hondius leaves Praia, Cape Verde, May 6, 2026.
Stringer/Reuters

The unidentified patient was a passenger on the same flight as the woman who died in South Africa after leaving the ship, according to Padilla.

-ABC News' Zoe Magee


May 08, 2026 10:25 AM

MV Hondius expected to arrive at Granadilla Port on Sunday by noon

The MV Hondius is now expected to arrive at Granadilla Port on Sunday by 12 p.m. local time, but could be delayed depending on weather conditions, officials said.


The ship will not dock upon arrival but will be anchored, and all passengers will be wearing hazmat gear as they are transferred by boat to the port, according to a statement from the Canarias Region government.


The passengers will then be transferred by a bus that is escorted by authorities to the airport where they will begin boarding aircraft by nationality with 23 nationalities on board in total, officials said.


The ride between Granadilla Port and Tenerife South Airport is expected to last approximately 15 minutes and officials said that passengers, as well as the vessel, will be completely isolated from Canarian people and not affect any local infrastructure.

-ABC News' Aicha El Hammar Castano


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 15, 2026 7:08 PM

US has no cases of Andes hantavirus

The U.S. currently has no cases of the Andes hantavirus, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at a briefing Friday.

The Andes version of hantavirus does not pass easily between people, and requires close, prolonged exposure, said the CDC’s incident manager for hantavirus, Dr. David Fitter. The CDC only recommends testing symptomatic people, Fitter said.

He said anyone with high-risk exposure should follow strict quarantine protocols. He classified high-risk exposure as anyone who was still on the cruise ship between May 5 and May 10, as well as anyone who had close, prolonged contact with someone who has Andes hantavirus, including sitting on a plane near someone with hantavirus.

PHOTO: A boat sails beside the cruise ship, MV Hondius, hit by Hantavirus as it is anchored off Cape Verde port, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, May 5, 2026.
Reuters TV via Reuters
A boat sails beside the cruise ship, MV Hondius, hit by Hantavirus as it is anchored off Cape Verde port, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, May 5, 2026.
Reuters TV via Reuters


CDC officials said they will not offer any updates on the conditions of the 16 cruise ship passengers currently in quarantine in Nebraska, including if they are currently symptomatic, citing privacy.

-ABC News’ Eric Strauss


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