U.S. Evacuates Americans from Hantavirus-Hit Ship, No Mandatory Quarantine

Seventeen asymptomatic American passengers evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak has killed three people, are being repatriated to Nebraska for medical assessment, with no mandatory quarantine, acting CDC director Jay Bhattacharya said Sunday (May 10, 2026). The ship arrived in Spain's Canary Islands, and the passengers are expected to land in Omaha early Monday (May 11).

One passenger who tested positive for hantavirus but remains asymptomatic will be transported directly to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, spokesperson Kayla Thomas said. The remaining passengers will be taken to the National Quarantine Unit for evaluation and monitoring based on their exposure risk.

Bhattacharya said health officials will assess each individual's contact with symptomatic cases before determining their next steps, which may include staying in Nebraska or returning home under supervision. All will remain under observation for several weeks to monitor for symptom development, mirroring protocols used during a 2018 outbreak of the same hantavirus strain.

The CDC maintains that hantavirus is not contagious in asymptomatic individuals, and Bhattacharya emphasized the threat level does not warrant public alarm, rejecting comparisons to the Covid-19 pandemic. He cited limited transmission risk and prior successful containment as justification for the current response.

The passengers are expected to arrive in Omaha early Monday morning, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center has activated its biocontainment unit in preparation. Health authorities will continue risk assessments and determine individual release plans based on exposure and home conditions.