Hantavirus: Current Situation

Current situation

CDC is responding to a deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, reported on May 2, 2026.

The World Health organization (WHO) confirmed that the type of hantavirus responsible for this outbreak is the Andes virus, which can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). HPS is a severe and potentially deadly disease that affects the lungs.

What CDC is doing

• CDC is working closely with other U.S. government agencies and international partners to bring Americans on the ship home as quickly and as safely as possible.
• CDC is providing technical assistance and guidance to other public health authorities responding to this outbreak.
  • Several U.S. passengers disembarked the cruise ship before the outbreak was identified, and some have returned to the United States.
  • CDC notified the state health departments where these passengers live and is actively providing timely updates, resources, and guidance on how to protect theses passengers and their families and communities.
• CDC is also working closely with the State Department, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and other international public health partners.
• CDC responds to sick travelers at U.S. ports of entry 24/7, 365 days of the year.
• CDC works with other federal agencies, health departments, airlines, and international partners to identify and follow up with people potentially exposed to a contagious disease of public health concern during travel.
• CDC port health stations are part of a network that serves to limit the introduction and spread of contagious diseases in the United States.

What you should do

Know the risk

• At this time, the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains extremely low.
• Current assessments show no sign of increased risk for people who are traveling.
• Routine travel can continue as normal.

Know how it spreads

• People usually get hantavirus from contact with rodents in areas where the disease is present, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva.
• The Andes virus is the only type of hantavirus that is known to spread person-to-person. This spread is usually limited to people who have close contact with the ill person. Close contact includes:
  • Direct physical contact
  • Prolonged time spent in close or enclosed spaces
  • Exposure to the infected person's saliva, respiratory secretions, or other body fluids (e.g., kissing, sharing utensils, handling contaminated bedding)

Know the symptoms

Signs and symptoms of HPS due to Andes virus appear between 4 to 42 days after exposure.

Early symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups like the thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders

About half of all patients with HPS also experience:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Chills
• Abdominal problems, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain

Know about treatment

• There is no specific treatment for hantavirus infection. Patients should receive supportive care, including rest, hydration, and treatment of symptoms.
• Symptoms may develop rapidly. Early medical care is critical.
• HPS can cause breathing difficulties, and patients may need breathing support, such as intubation. Intubation is a medical procedure where a tube is placed in the lungs from the mouth to help the patient get oxygen.

Resources