American Passengers from MV Hondius Repatriated After Hantavirus Outbreak

Following an outbreak of the Andes virus strain, 18 American passengers aboard the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius were safely brought back to the United States on Monday.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed that while most passengers did not show any symptoms, one individual and two close contacts were transported using a specialized aircraft containment unit as a precautionary measure.

These two individuals have been placed in high-security biological containment facilities at both Emory University Hospital in Atlanta and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha.

Dr. Aneesh Mehta, who oversees infectious disease services at Emory, emphasized the institution’s extensive preparation for challenges related to the Andes virus.

The situation originated after the Hondius departed from Argentina on April 1, traveling through areas where the Andean orthohantaviruses are common among local rodent populations. Following confirmation of the outbreak, the ship docked in Tenerife, in Spain’s Canary Islands, which acts as a hub for international repatriation efforts.

While two high-risk individuals are being closely monitored, the remaining 16 American passengers are under observation at Nebraska’s National Quarantine Unit.

Dr. Angela Hewlett, medical director at the Nebraska State Biocontainment Unit, described the isolation areas as being designed more like hotel accommodations than typical clinical settings, aimed at ensuring passenger comfort during their observation period.

As of Tuesday, HHS reported that all 16 passengers in Omaha remain asymptomatic.

Jake Rosmarin, one of the returning travelers from the MV Hondius, shared a positive update on social media about the group’s safe return. He expressed gratitude to the public for their support during this challenging time.

“It’s been a very long few days, but I hope to have another update soon. Thank you again to everyone who has supported me all this time. It really means a lot,” Rosmarin noted.

Public health officials advise returning travelers to maintain isolation for the virus’s incubation period, which can extend over several weeks. Currently, many individuals under observation show no symptoms, but World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned that additional cases could arise in the near future.