Three people on the cruise died, including a Dutch couple health officials believe were the first exposed to the virus while visiting South America.

Health officials across the United States and around the world are monitoring a rare but deadly outbreak of hantavirus after multiple confirmed cases were linked to a luxury cruise ship, including possible patients who weren't ever on the ship.

The MV Hondius was the epicenter of the first-ever deadly outbreak of hantavirus aboard a modern cruise ship. Was this a freak occurrence, or a sign of things to come?

While human-to-human transmission of the Andes hantavirus is uncommon, it is still possible, according to the World Health Organization, which contradicts online posts that claim it can only spread from rodents.

A surprising factor could lead to an increase risk of hantavirus this spring.

The Andes type of the hantavirus is spread by “close contact,” but it’s unclear how much of that transmission occurs by inhaling airborne droplets or other means

An American on the repatriation flight began showing symptoms of hantavirus and another "tested mildly PCR positive for the Andes virus," the Department of Health and Human Services says.

Scientists think the hantavirus, the deadly pathogen that has infected 11 passengers on a Dutch cruise ship, could be as old as humans.

Australian officials did report missing virus samples in 2024, but a later investigation found incomplete lab records were likely to blame.