Two passengers who sailed aboard the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius have returned home to the United States and are being actively monitored by health officials.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the individuals are in good health and aren't showing any signs of infection. They're also adhering to the latest recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CBS News reported.
Reuters added that people in at least two other states who had also been aboard the cruise ship are also being monitored. California is keeping an eye on an undisclosed number of residents who had also been on the ship, while Arizona is monitoring one resident who was a passenger aboard the MV Hondius. So far, none of the individuals has shown any symptoms.
Despite the rising concerns among the general public, the CDC says that at this time, the risk to the American people is considered extremely low.
"As the world's leader in global health security, the US government is using our premier health experts to guide our response to this evolving situation. We are working closely with our international partners to provide technical assistance and guidance to mitigate risk," reads a statement shared on the CDC's website.
"At this time, the risk to the American public is extremely low. We urge all Americans aboard the ship to follow the guidance of health officials as we work to bring you home safely."
According to Oceanwide Expeditions, no symptomatic passengers remain on board the vessel, which is currently on its way to Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
"Provisionally, m/v Hondius is estimated to arrive at the port of Grandilla, Tenerife in the early hours of Sunday 10 May. This is subject to change. Oceanwide Expeditions remains in close and continual discussion with relevant authorities regarding our exact point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and a precise timeline," the recent press release says.
What is the hantavirus Andes strain?
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported eight cases, including three confirmed via laboratory testing, as of Wednesday, May 6. The testing also revealed that the individuals had contracted the deadly Andes strain of the virus, which is the only type that is known to spread from person to person.
The Andes strain is found in parts of South America, where the MV Hondius cruise ship left around seven weeks ago. After departing Argentina, the Dutch-flagged passenger vessel visited Antarctica and Saint Helena before anchoring off the coast of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, with nearly 150 people still on board.
As of Wednesday, the Argentine government's leading hypothesis is that one couple contracted the hantavirus during a bird-watching tour before boarding the ship, The Associated Press said.
The rare, rodent-borne hantavirus illness carries a mortality rate as high as 50%, according to the WHO, because the virus can affect vital organs like the kidneys and lungs. Other symptoms include fevers, headaches, muscle aches, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
For example, by the end of 2023, fewer than 900 cases of hantavirus disease had been reported in the United States since surveillance began in 1993, according to the CDC.
Betsy Arakawa, the wife of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, was one of the victims who died from a hantavirus infection in February 2025. Following her death, rodent nests were later found near the house where she passed away.
When people-to-people transmission occurs, it is typically associated with close and prolonged contact, particularly among household members. The WHO says transmission most likely occurs during the early phase of illness.
Dr. Pablo Vial, an infectious disease doctor who studies hantavirus at the Institute of Sciences and Innovation in Medicine in Santiago, Chile, told NBC News that person-to-person transmission causes only 2% to 5% of all Andes virus cases.
Still, the hantavirus has already caused three deaths and multiple medical evacuations from the MV Hondius, the cruise ship at the epicenter of the ongoing outbreak.
The MV Hondius is a small cruise ship that's become a household name
The MV Hondius is the first registered Polar Class 6 vessel in the world, according to Oceanwide Expeditions. In other words, she meets the latest and highest Lloyd's Register standards for ice-strengthened cruise ships.
She's a far cry from mega-ships like Icon of the Seas and MSC World America, which both measure over 215,000 gross tons. Instead, MV Hondius measures around 5,590 tons and has a passenger capacity of just 170 in 80 cabins.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
