Americans from Hantavirus-Affected Ship May Avoid Quarantine

May 11, 2026

68 min

May 11, 2026 04:30

Americans from virus-hit ship will not necessarily be quarantined: official

## CDC's Approach to Hantavirus Cases

A senior official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has indicated that American passengers evacuated from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak might not face mandatory quarantine. The acting CDC director, Jay Bhattacharya, emphasized that the situation is not comparable to the Covid-19 pandemic, urging the public to remain calm.

## Repatriation and Risk Assessment

The United States has arranged a repatriation flight for 17 Americans from the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged ship that docked in Spain's Canary Islands. Three passengers have died from the virus, while others have fallen ill. Upon arrival in Nebraska, passengers will undergo interviews and risk assessments to determine their exposure level.

## Monitoring and Safety Measures

Passengers will be monitored at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, with one individual already testing positive but asymptomatic. Depending on their risk assessment, passengers may choose to stay in Nebraska or return home if it is deemed safe. Health authorities will continue to observe them for several weeks to ensure no symptoms develop.

## Previous Protocols and Public Communication

Bhattacharya noted that similar protocols were effective during a 2018 hantavirus outbreak. He addressed concerns about limited communication from health authorities, stating that the current threat level does not warrant panic. The CDC maintains that individuals are generally contagious only when symptomatic.

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