The United States and France have each reported at least one positive case of the deadly hantavirus after evacuating passengers from a cruise ship currently experiencing an outbreak. The news comes as nearly two dozen countries move to bring their citizens home following the incident, which has raised concerns about public health responses around the world.
According to reports by multiple outlets including CBS News and NBC, 17 American passengers were evacuated from the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius on Sunday. Among them, one tested positive for the virus after being quarantined in Nebraska. The Department of Health and Human Services announced that this individual is currently under strict monitoring.
In addition to U.S. citizens, French authorities confirmed that a passenger who was repatriated from the same cruise ship has also tested positive for hantavirus at a hospital in France. This comes after an evacuation operation coordinated by Spanish authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) saw passengers disembarking on Tenerife under tight health protocols.
The cruise ship, MV Hondius, had earlier experienced a hantavirus outbreak that led to three deaths. As part of safety measures, two American and French passengers were reportedly transported in biocontainment units during their evacuation from the vessel. The 22 British evacuees have since arrived at Arrowe Park Hospital, which was previously used for quarantining individuals from Wuhan and the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has emphasized that this is not a COVID-19 situation and urged against public panic. "This is not COVD and we don’t want to treat it like COVD," acting CDC director said in response to mounting concerns.
While hantavirus can be deadly, health officials reassure that the virus does not spread easily between people except through close contact with infected animals or their urine, droppings, or nests. The broader implications of this event highlight the global nature of infectious disease control and the need for coordinated international responses in such cases.
As more nations continue to repatriate their citizens from the affected cruise ship, the incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by public health systems worldwide when dealing with rare but serious diseases. The next steps involve further testing and isolation procedures to prevent any potential spread among evacuees and ensure that appropriate medical care is provided for those infected.
This article was produced by AVALW News on Monday, May 11, 2026 based on reporting from 14 verified news sources across 7 countries. Our editorial process cross-references facts from multiple independent outlets to deliver accurate, comprehensive coverage. All original sources are linked below.