The United States government is in the process of evacuating American citizens from a cruise ship that has been linked to an outbreak of hantavirus, a potentially deadly virus. These passengers will be relocated to a military facility in Nebraska, where they will undergo quarantine and medical observation, as confirmed by federal health authorities on Friday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assured the public that the risk posed to Americans remains very low. They are proceeding with plans to execute a medical evacuation flight for those aboard the M/V Hondius.
President Trump addressed the situation earlier on Friday, expressing confidence that the situation is manageable due to the virus’s low transmission rate.
“We have excellent experts monitoring the situation. The virus is well understood and has been for some time. It is not easily transmitted. This gives us hope that it will remain contained,” he stated.
“Everything appears to be under control. Our experts are very familiar with this virus. It’s been known for a long time, and unlike COVID-19, it doesn’t spread easily. But we’re staying vigilant, with top professionals closely examining the situation,” he added.
The outbreak has intensified over the past few weeks, initially starting with a passenger falling ill in early April. According to the World Health Organization, this has subsequently led to at least three fatalities.
Cases are now reported across multiple countries after passengers disembarked in Africa and Europe, prompting health officials to trace contacts globally.
Authorities in Cape Verde at one point blocked passengers from leaving the ship, underscoring concerns about containment.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially deadly disease typically spread through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, according to the CDC.
While most strains do not spread between people, health officials say the Andes virus — identified in some cases linked to the cruise ship — is the only known strain capable of limited person-to-person transmission.
The vessel is expected to dock in Spain’s Canary Islands, where international teams are coordinating next steps for passengers and crew.
A CDC team has been deployed to the Canary Islands to assess potential exposure among American passengers and determine monitoring needs.
Returning passengers are expected to be flown on a US government medical repatriation flight to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska.
They will then be transported to the National Quarantine Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for further monitoring.
Additional CDC personnel will be stationed at Offutt Air Force Base to support health assessments.
