CDC Resource – Andes Virus Outbreak on a Cruise Ship: Frequently Asked Questions

An outbreak of Andes virus, a rare hantavirus variant associated with severe respiratory illness, has been identified among passengers and crew aboard the M/V Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, prompting a coordinated international response involving CDC, HHS, the U.S. State Department, and state health departments.

Federal agencies are supporting repatriation efforts and conducting exposure assessments, contact tracing, and clinical evaluations at specialized treatment centers.

To support public communication and response efforts, CDC released a new FAQ resource outlining key information on transmission, risk levels, monitoring recommendations, and public health actions. The guidance emphasizes that overall risk to the public remains extremely low and that person-to-person spread is rare and typically limited to close-contact settings. Find the FAQs here.