Since the world has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, any viral outbreak has become a cause for concern. Now that an outbreak of Hantavirus — specifically the Andean virus — has been discovered on a cruise ship, Americans are concerned that any infected traveler could spread it. So, is the virus present in the United States?
Learn below about the 2026 hantavirus outbreak and what it means for Americans.
What is Hanta virus?
Hantavirus is a rare and potentially fatal virus. If someone contracts the disease, it can cause serious conditions, the most common of which is Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which usually begins with flu-like symptoms before developing into severe respiratory problems.
BREAKING: The head of the World Health Organization says eight cases of Hantavirus infection have been reported, including five confirmed cases and three suspected cases. https://t.co/GFhZZwiCcE
📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/tHYnNzqRnb
– Sky News (@SkyNews) May 7, 2026
Although cases of Hantavirus are rare, people around the world are still concerned about the recent discovery on board the MV Hondius cruise ship.
last year, Gene Hackmanlate wife, Betsy ArakawaHe died of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. She was 65 years old.
Is there a vaccine for Hantavirus?
No, there is no FDA-approved vaccine for Hantavirus.
“Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans.
People usually become infected through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings or saliva.
The type of Hantavirus involved in this case is the Andean virus – which is…
– World Health Organization (WHO) May 7, 2026
Is Hanta virus contagious? How it spreads
Hantavirus usually spreads through direct contact with infected rodent fluids, such as urine, droppings or saliva, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can also be spread through a scratch or bite from a rodent, according to the CDC, although it’s rare, or if a person breathes air contaminated by rodent droppings.
However, the Andean Hantavirus is known to be transmitted from person to person. This type of virus is mainly found in Chile and Argentina, where the cruise ship MV Hondius came from.
Is Hantavirus present in the United States?
In general, yes. Hantavirus cases have been present throughout the United States for years. Most cases in the Western Hemisphere are Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
As of May 2026, a small number of American passengers on board the MV Hondius were being monitored for symptoms of hantavirus. Two residents are being tracked by state officials, per USA Today. They had returned to the United States before the hantavirus was discovered during the cruise.
Is there a hantavirus epidemic?
No, at the time of publication, the World Health Organization has not declared the Hantavirus outbreak a pandemic. During a WHO briefing in May 2026, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove emphasized that Hantavirus was different from coronaviruses, specifically SARS-CoV-2, that we had seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I want to be clear here: This is not SARS-CoV-2. This is not the beginning of the Covid pandemic,” she said. “This is an outbreak that we’re seeing on a ship (and) there’s a confined area. … But this is not the same situation we were in six years ago.”
