Health officials in Georgia are actively monitoring two state residents who recently returned from the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak.
The outbreak involves the rare Andes strain of hantavirus — the only known strain capable of limited person-to-person transmission in close-contact situations. As of May 9, 2026, the outbreak has resulted in three confirmed deaths and multiple confirmed and suspected cases.
The two Georgia residents are currently in good health and showing no symptoms. They are being monitored as a precaution while contact tracing and investigations continue. State health officials say the risk to the general public remains low.
Outbreak Details
The MV Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, for an expedition cruise that included stops in Antarctica and South Atlantic islands. The ship is currently anchored off Cape Verde, with passengers and crew from more than 20 countries on board.
Reports indicate that around 30 to 40 passengers had already disembarked and returned to various countries — including the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Singapore — before the full extent of the outbreak was identified. Health authorities in multiple nations are now conducting contact tracing.
Hantavirus is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, saliva, or urine. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and in severe cases, rapid onset of respiratory distress and organ failure.
Assistant health officials have emphasized that while the Andes strain can spread person-to-person under certain close-contact conditions, widespread community transmission is considered unlikely.
The ship’s operator and international health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC, continue to coordinate efforts to manage the situation and safely repatriate remaining passengers.
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