90-Second Read: Texas cruise passengers complete Hantavirus monitoring with no infections, state says

Two Texas residents have safely completed a 42-day home isolation period without developing symptoms after potentially being exposed to a rare, human-transmissible strain of Hantavirus aboard an Antarctic cruise ship. The Texas Department of State Health Services said the passengers reached 42 days since their last possible exposure to the Andes strain of Hantavirus, the longest known period between exposure and the onset of symptoms. State health officials recommended monitoring for all passengers who had been aboard the vessel.

The Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius is anchored off Praia, Cabo Verde, May 6, 2026. The passengers had traveled aboard the MV Hondius, where several people later became ill with the Andes strain of Hantavirus. The Texas residents had already left the ship and returned home before the outbreak was identified.

In Texas, the two passengers were isolated at home and received twice-daily in-person evaluations by public health workers throughout the monitoring period. Texas health officials did not report any infections among the monitored passengers. The agency said neither person showed signs of infection and no longer faces any public health recommendations related to the exposure.