Deadly Hantavirus Cruise Sparks Alarm In U.S. As Texas And Virginia Passengers Return Home Before Outbreak Is Identified

Health officials in the United States are monitoring several travelers who recently returned from a cruise ship connected to a fatal hantavirus outbreak.

Two passengers from Texas and one from Virginia were on board the MV Hondius, a cruise vessel where multiple people later became sick and three passengers died.

The travelers returned to the U.S. before the outbreak had been formally identified, according to state health authorities.

Texas officials said both Texans are currently well and have not reported symptoms.

Texas Health Officials Say Two Passengers Are Symptom-Free

The Texas Department of State Health Services said Thursday that the two Texas passengers did not have contact with anyone who was visibly ill while on the MV Hondius.

Both have agreed to watch for symptoms and take their temperatures every day.

State officials said the travelers will contact public health authorities immediately if they notice any possible signs of illness.

Virginia Also Monitoring One Returned Traveler

The Virginia Department of Health is also keeping watch over one traveler who had been on the cruise and later returned home, according to 13 News Now.

As of Thursday, that passenger was reportedly in good health and had no symptoms of hantavirus infection.

The monitoring is precautionary, as symptoms can take time to appear after exposure.

Other U.S. States Are Watching Possible Exposures

American officials were already monitoring people in Arizona, California, and Georgia as of Wednesday.

Officials have confirmed that two Georgia residents and one Arizona resident are under observation. California officials are also monitoring an unspecified number of people.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday night that it is working with the State Department to track the status of U.S. passengers connected to the cruise.

“The Department of State is leading a coordinated, whole-of-government response including direct contact with passengers, diplomatic coordination, and engagement with domestic and international health authorities,” the CDC said.

Deadly Outbreak Began During MV Hondius Voyage

So far, three passengers have died in the outbreak, and several others have become ill.

The first known death was a 70-year-old Dutch man who died on April 11 after several days of serious illness.

At the time, the cause of his death was not publicly identified as hantavirus. His body was later removed from the ship on April 24 at St. Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic.

In a video shared with passengers, the ship’s captain, Jan Dobrogowski, said the death was believed to have been from natural causes.

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“Tragic as it is, it was due to natural causes, we believe,” Dobrogowski said. “And also whatever health issues he was struggling with, I’m told by the doctor, were not infectious, so the ship is safe when it comes to that.”

He added: “The ship is safe. This gentleman, unfortunately, succumbed to natural causes. And like I say, we do what we can in order to continue in a safe and dignified way.”

Cruise Company Says Dozens Left The Ship At St. Helena

Oceanwide Expeditions, the Netherlands-based company that operates the MV Hondius, said Thursday that 30 passengers got off the vessel at St. Helena.

The company also revealed that six Americans disembarked there on April 24, nearly two weeks after the first passenger died on board.

The first confirmed hantavirus case from the ship was not announced by authorities until May 2.

Argentine Officials Examine Possible Source Of Infection

The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1.

Argentine authorities believe one possible source of the outbreak may have been a bird-watching trip taken by a Dutch couple at a garbage dump in Ushuaia.

Officials suspect the couple may have contracted hantavirus there before falling ill. The Dutch man later died on the ship, while his wife left the vessel, traveled to South Africa, and died there.

Flight Attendant In Netherlands Tested After Possible Exposure

On Thursday, the Netherlands’ health ministry said a flight attendant who had briefly been on a plane boarded by the Dutch woman was showing symptoms consistent with hantavirus.

The flight attendant was being tested in an isolation ward at a hospital in Amsterdam.

If the test comes back positive, the case could mark the first known infection linked to the outbreak involving someone who was not on the cruise ship.

How Hantavirus Spreads

Hantavirus symptoms usually appear between one and eight weeks after exposure.

Texas health officials said infection generally requires “close, prolonged contact with a person who is actively sick with the disease.”

Authorities added that the virus is not known to spread through brief casual contact, such as shaking hands or being in the same room for a short time.

They also said there have been no documented cases of someone without symptoms spreading the virus to another person.

Impact and Consequences

The outbreak has triggered public health monitoring across several U.S. states and raised questions about how information was handled during the cruise.

Passengers left the MV Hondius before the outbreak was officially confirmed, meaning health officials are now working backward to identify and monitor possible exposures.

The deaths of three passengers have also placed new attention on cruise ship health protocols, especially when serious illness occurs at sea and the cause is not immediately clear.

For travelers who returned home, the main consequence is a period of symptom monitoring, including daily temperature checks and close contact with local health officials.

What’s Next?

Health departments in Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Arizona, California, and possibly other states will continue monitoring travelers who were on the MV Hondius.

The CDC and State Department are also coordinating with domestic and international health authorities as they track U.S. passengers connected to the voyage.

Testing in the Netherlands may determine whether the symptomatic flight attendant became infected after contact with the Dutch woman who later died.

More information is expected as health agencies investigate how the outbreak began, who may have been exposed, and whether additional cases develop.

Summary

Two Texans and one Virginian are being monitored after returning from the MV Hondius, a cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak.

Three passengers have died, and several others have become ill. U.S. officials are also watching travelers in Arizona, California, and Georgia.

Health officials say the monitored passengers in Texas and Virginia are currently healthy and showing no symptoms.

Authorities continue to investigate the outbreak’s origin, with Argentine officials examining whether a bird-watching trip in Ushuaia may have played a role.

Bulleted Takeaways: U.S. Passengers Monitored After Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak On MV Hondius Cruise

• Two passengers from Texas and one from Virginia returned from the MV Hondius before the hantavirus outbreak was identified.
• Texas officials said both travelers are symptom-free and had no contact with sick passengers.
• The Virginia traveler is also reportedly healthy and under monitoring.
• Three cruise passengers have died, and several others have fallen ill.
• U.S. officials are also monitoring people in Arizona, California, and Georgia.
• Six Americans left the ship at St. Helena on April 24.
• Oceanwide Expeditions said 30 passengers disembarked at St. Helena.
• The first confirmed hantavirus case from the ship was not announced until May 2.
• Argentine officials are investigating whether a bird-watching trip at a garbage dump in Ushuaia may have been the source.
• A flight attendant in the Netherlands is being tested after showing possible symptoms following contact with one of the passengers.