Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship: What You Need to Know About the Rare Virus and US Response

The MV Hondius cruise ship became the center of a rare and concerning hantavirus outbreak in early April 2026, leaving passengers stranded in Tenerife, Canary Islands, after several fell ill. On May 10, 2026, Spanish health officials from the External Health Service assisted disembarkation efforts. The situation took a tragic turn when three passengers died from the virus, which is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents.

Eighteen Americans who were on board have since returned to the United States, where they are now under 42-day quarantine at a containment facility in Nebraska. Operated by the University of Nebraska, this is the only government-funded facility in the U.S. equipped to handle individuals exposed to novel or pathogenic viruses. The passengers are receiving monitoring and assessments from a specialized care team to determine their next steps.

Laurel Bristow, an infectious disease researcher at the Emory Rollins School of Public Health and host of the podcast Health Wanted, spoke with Today, Explained co-host Noel King about the outbreak, the specific strain of hantavirus involved, and the broader risks associated with the virus. Bristow emphasized that while the situation is serious, the global risk level remains low.

Below is an edited excerpt of their conversation:

What happened after passengers disembarked?

All of the Americans who were on the cruise ship are now in a containment facility in Nebraska. It’s the only government-funded facility that can handle people who have been exposed to potentially novel or pathogenic viruses that have emerged. They are receiving monitoring and assessment from a care team, and a decision will be made in conjunction with their care team about where they will spend the 42-day quarantine. While they are not being forced to stay in the facility, some may choose to do so. Forty-two days of confinement is a long time and suggests that what we’re dealing with here is something serious.

Understanding hantavirus: Transmission and risks

Hantavirus is not a single virus but a family of about 40 different viruses, primarily spread through contact with the feces, urine, or saliva of infected rodents. Not all rodents carry hantavirus—deer mice are the primary carriers in the U.S., and they are typically found in the southwestern regions of the Americas, where most hantavirus cases are reported.

Bristow clarified that fears about rats in cities like New York are largely unfounded, as not all rodent species carry the virus. The strain involved in this outbreak is the Andes species of hantavirus, which is unique because it is the only known strain that can spread from human to human—though this is still considered rare.

"This viral outbreak is very far from warranting a pandemic-level freakout. The worldwide risk level from hantavirus is low." — Laurel Bristow

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also stressed that the global risk from hantavirus remains low, despite public concern. The situation on the MV Hondius is being treated with extreme caution due to the novel circumstances, but health officials are confident in the containment measures.

For more details, listen to the full episode of Today, Explained on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify.