Trending Now - Understanding the Spread of Hantavirus in the U.S.

WHO:

CBS News - Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is the director of the National Institutes of Health and acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

NY Post - A fourth Californian was exposed to hantavirus while sitting near a returning cruise passenger on an international flight.

NY Post - A French woman who tested positive for hantavirus after disembarking from the MV Hondius cruise ship is now in critical condition after doctors initially dismissed her symptoms as anxiety.

CBS News - Two Maryland residents are being monitored for potential hantavirus exposure.

CBS News - Seventeen Americans and a dual British-U.S. citizen were evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship due to the hantavirus outbreak.

NBC News - At least six passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship have tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus.

ABC News - Dr. Amesh Adalja is a senior scholar for Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

WHAT:

NY Post - A fourth Californian was exposed to hantavirus while sitting near a returning cruise passenger on an international flight, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

CBS News - Three people linked to the outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship died, with the ship carrying about 150 people from more than 15 countries.

BBC News - The head of the World Health Organization warned that the situation could still change and there might be more confirmed cases of hantavirus.

CBS News - Health officials in Maryland are coordinating with all levels of government, as well as health experts and medical facilities regarding the hantavirus situation.

Newsweek - Passengers and some crew members were evacuated from the MV Hondius in the Canary Islands.

CBS News - Health officials stated that the Maryland residents with potential hantavirus exposure were not on the MV Hondius cruise ship, but were on a flight abroad with a passenger who has the virus.

CBS News - The Maryland Department of Health reported that most diseases stemming from hantavirus are not known to spread between people, but the Andes virus is the only known hantavirus capable of spreading from person-to-person.

CBS News - Early symptoms of hantavirus include fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, while late symptoms include coughing and shortness of breath, with some patients experiencing tightness in the chest as the lungs fill with fluid.

BBC News - The head of the World Health Organization warned that the situation could still change and there might be more confirmed cases of hantavirus.

CBS News - Health officials stated that the risk to the public in Maryland remains "very low," but they are taking precautionary steps regarding potential hantavirus exposure.

CBS News - The Maryland Department of Health reported that the Andes virus is the only known hantavirus capable of spreading from person-to-person.

CBS News - The CDC reported that 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms from hantavirus may die from the disease.

CBS News - The incubation period for hantavirus ranges from four to 42 days, and asymptomatic persons are not considered infectious.

CBS News - The Maryland Department of Health reported that the residents were on a flight that included a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship who was infected with hantavirus.

CBS News - There have been no hantavirus cases identified in Maryland since 2019, and Andes virus infections have never been reported in the state.

CBS News - Three people linked to the outbreak on the cruise ship died.

CBS News - The MV Hondius cruise ship was carrying about 150 people from more than 15 countries.

CBS News - Infectious disease experts have stated that the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship poses very low risks to the wider public.

NBC News - Six passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus.

WHERE:

NY Post - The exposure of the fourth Californian occurred on an international flight.

NBC News - The MV Hondius cruise ship is the location where the passengers tested positive for hantavirus.

WHY:

CBS News - World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, "This is not another COVID, and the risk to the public is low," emphasizing that the public should not panic.

Newsweek - The situation regarding hantavirus is reported to be under control, according to RFK Jr.

CBS News - World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that years of scientific evaluations of the virus have informed the judgment that the risk to the public is low.

ABC News - The Andes variant of hantavirus is explained by Dr. Amesh Adalja, indicating its potential spread and implications for public health.

HOW:

CBS News - The CDC reported that the incubation period for hantavirus ranges from four to 42 days, and asymptomatic persons are not considered infectious.

CBS News - The CDC stated that hantavirus is a severe and potentially deadly disease that affects the lungs, with 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms potentially dying from the disease.

CBS News - Hantaviruses are spread to people from rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

ABC News - Dr. Amesh Adalja discusses how the Andes variant of hantavirus spreads, although specific methods were not detailed in the article.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 23:18 UTC)

A fourth Californian has been exposed to hantavirus after sitting near a returning cruise passenger on an international flight, as reported by the California Department of Public Health. This comes in the wake of three deaths linked to an outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was carrying around 150 passengers from over 15 countries. Health officials are closely monitoring the situation as they continue to investigate the source of the outbreak.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 21:21 UTC)

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health and acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is currently involved in addressing the hantavirus situation. The head of the World Health Organization has cautioned that the situation could still evolve, with the possibility of more confirmed cases, while health officials in Maryland are working closely with various government levels and medical facilities to manage the response. However, World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reassured the public, stating, "This is not another COVID, and the risk to the public is low," urging everyone to remain calm.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 17:37 UTC)

A fourth Californian has been exposed to hantavirus after sitting near a returning cruise passenger on an international flight. Meanwhile, passengers and some crew members were evacuated from the MV Hondius in the Canary Islands. The situation regarding hantavirus is reported to be under control, according to RFK Jr.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 15:49 UTC)

Health officials have confirmed that Maryland residents who may have been exposed to hantavirus were not on the MV Hondius cruise ship, but instead were on a flight with a passenger who has the virus. While most hantaviruses do not spread between people, the Andes virus is the exception, capable of person-to-person transmission, and early symptoms can include fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, progressing to coughing and shortness of breath in later stages. The CDC notes that the incubation period for hantavirus can range from four to 42 days, and individuals who are asymptomatic are not considered infectious.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 13:30 UTC)

A French woman is in critical condition after testing positive for hantavirus, having initially been dismissed by doctors who attributed her symptoms to anxiety following her disembarkation from the MV Hondius cruise ship. The head of the World Health Organization has cautioned that the situation remains fluid, with the possibility of more confirmed hantavirus cases on the horizon. According to the CDC, hantavirus is a severe and potentially deadly illness that impacts the lungs, with a staggering 38 percent of those who develop respiratory symptoms facing a fatal outcome.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 11:36 UTC)

Health officials in Maryland have reassured the public that the risk of hantavirus exposure remains "very low," although they are taking precautionary measures. The Maryland Department of Health noted that the Andes virus is the only known hantavirus that can spread from person to person, while the CDC has reported that 38% of those who develop respiratory symptoms from hantavirus may face fatal outcomes. World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that years of scientific evaluations have led to the conclusion that the overall risk to the public is minimal.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 07:50 UTC)

Two Maryland residents are currently being monitored for potential hantavirus exposure after being on a flight that included a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship who was infected with the virus. The Maryland Department of Health noted that there have been no hantavirus cases in the state since 2019, and infections from the Andes virus have never been reported there. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hantaviruses are transmitted to people from rodents through their urine, droppings, or saliva.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 06:02 UTC)

Seventeen Americans and a dual British-U.S. citizen were evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship due to a hantavirus outbreak, which has already claimed the lives of three people linked to the situation. The cruise ship was carrying around 150 passengers from more than 15 countries at the time of the outbreak. World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reassured the public, stating, "This is not another COVID, and the risk to the public is low," urging everyone not to panic.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 04:12 UTC)

Infectious disease experts have reported that the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship poses very low risks to the wider public. This assessment comes from a recent update by CBS News. The experts emphasize that while the situation is being monitored, there is no significant threat to those outside the affected area.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 01:32 UTC)

At least six passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship have tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, raising concerns about public health. Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, has provided insights into the potential spread of this variant. While the specific methods of transmission were not detailed, the situation highlights the importance of monitoring and understanding this virus.