State Department and Six U.S. States Monitor Passengers Exposed to Andes Virus Outbreak on Cruise Ship MV Hondius

The M/V Hondius luxury cruise ship is the site of an Andes virus outbreak affecting international passengers. Three deaths have been confirmed among nine total cases (confirmed or suspected). Twenty-nine passengers, including six Americans, left the vessel on April 24 shortly after the first death and are now dispersed across six U.S. states under health monitoring. The CDC and State Department are coordinating a multi-agency response with international health authorities. The Andes virus strain is the only hantavirus capable of person-to-person transmission, typically requiring close, prolonged contact. The ship is expected to dock in Tenerife, Spain. U.S. health authorities emphasize the American public faces extremely low risk, and no cases have been reported domestically. The outbreak has been classified as a Level 3 emergency response.