Hantavirus cases in Estados Unidos

Country note

One of 18 repatriated American passengers confirmed PCR-positive for Andes hantavirus (asymptomatic at testing); transported in a biocontainment unit to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit at UNMC. As of 12 May: 16 Americans at Nebraska facility (1 in biocontainment/confirmed, 15 under 42-day monitoring); 2 at Emory University Hospital Atlanta ASPR RESPTC (1 symptomatic, PCR pending; 1 monitoring). Contacts monitored across 7 states (AZ, GA, TX, VA, CA, NJ).

Context

The 2026 outbreak is caused by Andes virus (ANDV), the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission. The index event is a cluster aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius. Estados Unidos cases are either:

• Returning passengers or crew of the MV Hondius
• Household or close-contact cases of returning travellers
• Suspected pre-cruise exposures (rare, currently under investigation)

The country's national focal point reports cases up to WHO and ECDC; we update from those publications.

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Other affected countries