United States officials are monitoring Americans in at least three states who traveled on the luxury cruise ship hit with the rare Hantavirus outbreak that has caused three deaths. Now, officials and residents in New York and across the country are raising concerns about travel safety ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
In a news release issued on May 6, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the Department of State is “leading a coordinated, whole-of-government response,” which includes direct contact with the ship’s passengers and international health authorities
The World Health Organization has so far confirmed eight hantavirus cases among individuals aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship traveling in the Atlantic Ocean operated by the Netherlands-based operator Oceanwide Expeditions. Three people have died.
The WHO said the particular strain has been confirmed as the Andes virus, the only hantavirus strain that can be transmitted from person to person. Typically, hantavirus spreads through the urine, feces or saliva of infected rodents and human-to-human transmission is known to be rare.
On the WHO’s website, it states that the organization has assessed the risk to the global population from this outbreak as low, stating that it “will continue to monitor the epidemiological situation and update the risk assessment.”
However, concerns of the virus spreading during international travel in the coming months are rising as millions of people prepare to attend the 2026 World Cup, including at MetLife Stadium.
Here is everything you need to know about the hantavirus outbreak, including what the virus is, what the New York State Department of Health has said and its impact on the 2026 World Cup.
What is hantavirus?
According to the New York State Department of Health, hantavirus disease is caused by several different strains of hantaviruses, which are typically found in rodents around the world.
The viruses found in North America can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which is a severe, potentially fatal, lung disease, the health department noted on its website. It can also cause a milder form of the disease, which is known as Non-Pulmonary Hantavirus infection.
The CDC has noted that although it is rare, hantavirus can be contagious and spread between people. There is no specific cure, vaccine or treatment for hantavirus infection, but the CDC stated that it is survivable if medical care is sought early.
Is hantavirus in the US?
On May 6, the New York Times reported that public health agencies in Georgia, Arizona and California are monitoring residents who were aboard the MV Hondius cruise and have since returned to their homes. None of the people being monitored has shown signs of illness, according to the Times.
The Georgia Department of Public Health is monitoring two residents, the agency said in a statement to USA TODAY on May 6.
“The individuals are currently in good health and show no signs of infection. They are following current recommendations from CDC,” the Georgia DPH said in the statement
According to the Times, the Arizona Department of Health Services was notified of one resident who was on the ship, and the California Department of Public Health stated they were notified of residents on the ship by the CDC, but did not state how many people were being monitored.
“At this time, the risk to the American public is extremely low,” the CDC said in a statement about the cruise outbreak on May 6.
Is hantavirus in NY?
As of May 7, there have not been any confirmed cases of hantavirus in New York, nor has there been any confirmation of New York residents currently being monitored for the virus.
The New York State Department of Health stated that most cases of human hantavirus infections in the U.S. have occurred in states west of the Mississippi River; however, there have been few sporadic, single cases reported in Eastern states, including New York.
The most recent confirmed case of hantavirus in New York was in Franklin County in 2017, according to the health department.
The New York State Health Department included resources on its website for New Yorkers, including statistical information, local health department contacts, and rat and mouse control brochures. For more information, visit health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/hantavirus/.
Will hantavirus outbreak impact travel for 2026 World Cup?
Health authorities are currently saying that the hantavirus outbreak appears to be confined to the cruise ship and is low risk to the general public. Travelers, however, are encouraged to take precautions by practicing good hygiene and avoiding contact with rodents or potentially contaminated environments.
“We understand the concerns sports fans might have when it comes to attending an event with so many others, from the U.S. and from other countries,” Dr. Gregory Sugalski, an Army veteran and chair of emergency medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center, told The New York Post. “But I want to say two words to them: ‘No fear.’
New York and New Jersey infectious disease experts have been prepping for the millions of anticipated World Cup travelers for the past two years, according to reports. With large numbers of foreign visitors comes the threat of infectious or deadly diseases, including tuberculosis, measles, varicella, hepatitis A, typhoid, malaria, SARS, and hantavirus.
“The whole health care system in New York City will be on the alert for ALL of these events,” Dr. Vikramjit Mukherjee, chief of critical care at Big Apple’s Bellevue, told Healthbeat New York. “We’re looking at it like a huge migration event.”
Hantavirus symptoms and how to protect yourself
The New York State Department of Health stated that hantavirus symptoms could include:
Most symptoms appear nine to 33 days after the virus enters the body, but they can show up as early as one week after the virus is contracted, or as late as eight weeks.
New Yorkers are encouraged to avoid contact with rodent droppings or urine and avoid touching live or dead rodents. If you see rodents in your home, you can contact an exterminator or set up snap traps.
The virus can survive in rodent droppings for hours or days in shade or rodent nests, but the health department said that it can be killed by most household disinfectants, like bleach, detergents, and alcohol. Exposure to UV rays from the sun can also kill the virus.
If a home or building has a large amount of rodent droppings, the health department said it should be vacated and aired out before reoccupying.
Contributing: USA TODAY & NorthJersey.com
— Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York state. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@USATodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rare outbreak on cruise ship raises concerns. What to know about hantavirus
Reporting by Madison Scott, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
