90-Second Read: Two Houston residents among those exposed during Atlantic cruise ship Hantavirus incident

Houston health officials have implemented safety protocols for first responders handling any service calls involving the two passengers, who are currently monitoring themselves for symptoms. Two Texas residents who were passengers on the MV Hondius ship at the center of a deadly Hantavirus outbreak have been identified as Houston residents, according to city personnel, according to NBC News station KPRC. The confirmation comes as health officials worldwide continue tracking passengers who may have been exposed to the rare but potentially fatal virus during what has become an international health emergency. At least eight confirmed cases have been linked to the outbreak, including three deaths, according to the World Health Organization.

Theresa Tran declined to comment specifically on whether the two Houston residents are being closely monitored, but confirmed that state officials informed all regional medical directors about the two Texans under close monitoring. The MV Hondius, operated by Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions, departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, with approximately 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries. The ship's itinerary included visits to Antarctica and several isolated South Atlantic islands. Tran stated, directing further inquiries to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DSHS.

Myra and the KRIS 6 Digital Team recently won an Edward Murrow Award in May 2024. The first death occurred on April 11 when a 69-year-old Dutch passenger died aboard the vessel. His wife later died on April 26 after being removed from a flight in South Africa. It typically requires close, prolonged contact with a person who is actively sick with the disease." The agency noted that the virus "is not known to spread through casual contact such as shaking hands or being in the same room for a few minutes.