90-Second Read: 1 California resident remains on Hantavirus-stricken ship, another has returned home

California health officials said on Friday that one California resident remains aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, which is experiencing an outbreak of Andes Hantavirus. Another Californian who was on the ship has returned home and is in contact with local public health officials, the California Department of Public Health said. CDPH said there have been 99 California residents who have been diagnosed with Hantavirus, from 1980 to 2025. Eight Hantavirus cases have been identified so far and three people have died as part of the outbreak. Unlike influenza and COVID-19, years of experience in South America have shown that this Andes Hantavirus rarely spreads between people." The risk to the general public in California is "extremely low.

Other states that have said they are monitoring seven passengers who previously disembarked include Arizona, Georgia, Texas and Virginia. CDPH said California is assisting with the national response to the cruise ship outbreak by fast-tracking clinical testing capacity for Andes Hantavirus samples at its Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory. Instead, the California cases were all from Sin Nombre Hantavirus, which is not associated with person-to-person contact as Andes Hantavirus can be. On Friday, CDPH said there are currently no ill passengers onboard the cruise ship, which is making its way to the Canary Islands. We understand that news of an unusual outbreak can be concerning," Dr.

Erica Pan, the state public health officer and CDPH director, said in a statement. At this time, local, state, national and global public health partners are working together to assess and care for people who may have been exposed and prevent spread of the virus. Another CDC team will meet them in Nebraska, where the passengers will be expected to be put into quarantine. None were from Andes Hantavirus, which is found in the southern Andes region of Argentina and Chile.

There are an estimated 17 Americans now on board the cruise ship.