Hantavirus on M/V Hondius Cruise: 17 Americans Repurposed to U.S. Quarantine After Andes Strain Case

The repatriation of passengers from the M/V Hondius cruise ship, linked to a hantavirus outbreak, has begun, with 17 Americans being airlifted to the United States for quarantine and medical evaluation.

On May 6, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed that the repatriation process was underway. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are assisting the U.S. Department of State in transporting the passengers from Tenerife, Spain, where the ship docked, to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska.

The 17 Americans are being taken to the National Quarantine Center at the University of Nebraska, a federally funded facility specializing in high-consequence pathogen monitoring and care. Two passengers are being transported in biocontainment units: one has tested mildly positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, while the other is exhibiting mild symptoms.

Understanding Hantavirus: Symptoms and Transmission

Early and Late Symptoms of Hantavirus Infection

According to the CDC, hantavirus symptoms typically appear within one to eight weeks after exposure and may develop in two phases:

• Early symptoms: Fatigue, fever, muscle aches (especially in the thighs, hips, back, and shoulders), headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain.
• Late symptoms (4–10 days after early symptoms): Coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and fluid in the lungs.

Hantavirus can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a severe condition with a 38% mortality rate, as reported by the CDC.

Human-to-Human Transmission: The Andes Strain Risk

Most hantavirus strains spread from animals, primarily rodents, to humans. However, the Andes strain—the strain detected in the cruise ship passengers—can be transmitted between humans.

The CDC warns that symptoms may take up to 42 days to appear, and the virus is most contagious when symptoms are present. This prolonged incubation period increases the risk of unknowingly spreading the virus before detection.

Public Health Response and Containment Efforts

While the risk to the general public is considered low, health authorities are taking precautions. The CDC stated in a May 8 notice that the risk to the wider public is unlikely, but monitoring and containment remain critical due to the Andes strain’s transmission potential.

The repatriation of the 17 Americans to the National Quarantine Center ensures close medical supervision and minimizes the risk of further spread. Health officials continue to assess the situation as the passengers undergo evaluation and monitoring.