Hantavirus Outbreak 2026
Featured Expert
May 14, 2026
A recent outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship traveling in the South Atlantic Ocean is being investigated by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
J Lee Jenkins, M.D., deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response, provides an overview of the situation and what you should know.
Key Points
- The current risk for hantavirus infection to the United States public is extremely low.
- This outbreak is connected to the Andes virus, a type of hantavirus that can sometimes spread from person to person through close contact.
- Hantaviruses, including the Andes virus, can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory condition.
- Early symptoms of HPS are similar to the flu, but the illness can become serious quickly. Seek medical care immediately if you suspect you have been infected.
The Outbreak
An outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) was first reported to the World Health Organization on May 2, 2026. The outbreak was caused by the Andes virus, a type of hantavirus that can sometimes spread from person to person through close contact.
As of May 12, 11 cases (nine confirmed and two suspected) and three deaths had been reported. The cruise ship departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 and visited remote areas including Antarctica, South Georgia Island, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena and Ascension Island. The ship carried 147 passengers and crew from 23 countries.
Health investigators are evaluating environmental rodent exposure and associated risk for other passengers. The CDC deployed a response team to meet the ship in the Canary Islands and is coordinating repatriation of U.S. passengers and their monitoring, quarantine and treatment.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a large group of more than 20 different viruses. It is a rare but serious virus that is spread to people by exposure to infected urine, saliva or feces from rodents, typically mice and rats.
Hantavirus can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is a severe respiratory condition. According to the CDC, HPS can be fatal among patients with significant respiratory symptoms.
What is the Andes virus?
The Andes virus is a form of hantavirus. The cruise ship outbreak was caused by the Andes virus. It can be spread from person to person through prolonged, close contact. The Andes virus is also spread through exposure to infected rodent urine, saliva or feces. Secondary infections among healthcare workers have been documented in healthcare settings when infection prevention and control measures were not implemented or followed.
What are symptoms of hantavirus?
Symptoms of hantavirus infection (including the Andes virus) usually develop one to six weeks after exposure. Severe symptoms may develop quickly, so it is important to contact your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms after exposure to rodent excrement or someone with the infection.
Early symptoms, which may resemble influenza or other viral illnesses, include:
- fever
- fatigue
- muscle aches
- headache
- nausea
- vomiting
- gastrointestinal complaints
Later symptoms, which typically appear four to 10 days after initial illness, include:
- cough
- shortness of breath
- chest tightness
- rapid respiratory deterioration
People are typically infectious only while they have symptoms.
What is the risk of getting hantavirus?
Public health officials emphasize that the risk to the United States public is low. “The chance for broad spread in the U.S. is extremely unlikely,” says Jenkins.
How is hantavirus diagnosed?
Diagnosis can be difficult early in the illness, especially within the first 72 hours of symptoms. Testing for hantavirus is available through the CDC and some state public health laboratories.
How is hantavirus treated?
There is no specific antiviral treatment, but people infected with the virus receive early supportive care, including rest, hydration and management of symptoms.
In severe cases, early use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to support a person’s heart and lungs may significantly improve survival.
“Johns Hopkins Medicine has extensive expertise in the evaluation and management of emerging and high-consequence infectious diseases through our Special Pathogens Center, biocontainment unit and multidisciplinary infectious diseases programs,” says Jenkins. “Hopkins clinicians and researchers have experience in zoonotic and environmental infectious diseases, special pathogen preparedness, critical care management and hantavirus-related research.”
How can you prevent getting hantavirus?
People who handle infected rodents and their feces are at the highest risk of contracting hantavirus infection. The CDC offers prevention strategies to reduce exposure to infected rodents.
Public health officials emphasize that the risk to the U.S. public from the 2026 Andes virus outbreak is extremely low.
If you think you have been exposed to hantavirus, contact your doctor immediately, and take precautions to avoid exposing other people.
How does Johns Hopkins Medicine prepare for outbreaks like hantavirus?
Johns Hopkins Medicine collaborates closely with the broader institution and regional public health partners to coordinate responses to infectious disease outbreaks. Building on prior preparedness and response efforts for Ebola and COVID-19, Johns Hopkins Medicine provides an integrated, multidisciplinary approach involving emergency medicine, the biocontainment unit, and both inpatient and outpatient clinical teams.
Medically reviewed by J Lee Jenkins, M.D.
Additional resources:
Prepping for Outbreaks: Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit
