Key Messages
- An outbreak of Andes virus, a known species of hantavirus, has been reported on a cruise ship in the South Atlantic. This outbreak has a extremely low risk of spread or impact to the general public.
- As of 8 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a total of eight cases, including three deaths.
- As of May 9, CDC has notified CDPH of three California residents who were passengers on the MV Hondius. One passenger has returned to California, and two are being repatriated to a facility in Nebraska for evaluation before returning to California.
- In addition, a fourth traveler, not on the ship, but while overseas, became a close contact with a known case. This person has returned to California.
- CDPH is supporting the local health departments in the two returned travelers’ counties of residence in conducting ongoing public health monitoring.
- Plans for repatriation of the other passengers are still being finalized. CDC is planning to conduct health assessments prior to passengers returning to their homes. CDPH will notify local health departments with resident passengers still aboard.
- Andes virus is the only species of hantavirus with known person to person transmission, and is endemic to South America. The most common hantavirus in North America, Sin Nombre Virus, does not spread person to person.
- CDPH is in close contact with CDC and the WHO. This is an evolving situation, and information is current as of May 11. New or changing information will be updated as it becomes available.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is monitoring an outbreak of illness caused by Andes virus, a known species of hantavirus, among passengers and crew of the MV Hondius cruise ship. CDPH was notified by CDC that three California residents were among the vessel’s passengers. One of the passengers had already disembarked and returned to California. CDPH is working with the local health department (LHD) where this passenger resides for monitoring. Two California residents remained aboard the vessel until they were able to disembark in Tenerife, Canary Islands and be repatriated to a medical facility in Nebraska. In addition, a fourth traveler, who was not onboard the MV Hondius, was determined to be in close contact with a case from the ship while overseas. As with the returned passenger from the MV Hondius, they are being monitored by their LHD. CDPH will notify California LHDs of any additional returned or repatriated passengers in their jurisdictions when this information becomes available. Currently, CDC and CDPH assess the risk to the general public as extremely low. To date, no Orange County residents have been identified as a contact in this outbreak.