Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently confirmed that the United States has the ongoing hantavirus situation under control, The Hill reported. During a press conference held in the Oval Office, Kennedy addressed concerns regarding the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. He stressed that the government has been actively managing the response since the very beginning of the incident.
When the topic of potential staffing and funding cuts came up, Kennedy was quick to point out the aggressive steps taken by federal authorities. He explained that his team has been in constant communication with the University of Nebraska and Governor Pillen of Nebraska throughout the ordeal. He also confirmed that a team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was deployed directly to Tenerife to manage the situation.
According to Kennedy, the logistics were handled efficiently, with airplanes ready to transport the 17 American patients off the vessel. Two of these patients were moved to Atlanta, while the other 16 were brought to Nebraska. Kennedy noted that one patient in each of those locations is currently symptomatic, but he remains confident in the overall containment strategy. As he put it, “We have this under control, and we’re not worried about it.”
RFK Jr.’s assessment aligns closely with the perspective shared by other health authorities
Both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have emphasized that the risk to the general public remains low. During a briefing, officials from the World Health Organization confirmed that the remaining passengers and crew on the MV Hondius are expected to finish disembarking by the end of the day. Nyka Alexander, the manager of health emergencies communication for the World Health Organization, explained that these individuals are being moved via specially arranged flights rather than commercial travel.
Oliver le Polain, who heads the World Health Organization’s unit for epidemiology and analytics, reported that nine cases of hantavirus have been confirmed in connection with the cruise ship, including three deaths. One recent case involved a passenger who disembarked in France on Sunday and is now in isolation. Another case remains inconclusive at this time.
The 17 Americans and one British national who returned to the United States on Sunday are currently undergoing quarantine. Sixteen of these patients are housed at the National Quarantine Center at the University of Nebraska, a facility that has previously served during the Ebola and COVID-19 responses.
The setup is designed to be as comfortable as possible, with individuals having their own rooms and access to technology, though they are strictly prohibited from intermingling or receiving outside visitors. One asymptomatic patient who tested positive for the virus is being monitored in the more specialized biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Two other patients were transported to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of a contingency plan. One of these individuals was experiencing mild symptoms. While the biocontainment unit in Atlanta is highly specialized, it can also function as a quarantine area.
Capt. Brendan Jackson, the acting director of the Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, explained that the team is being very liberal with how they monitor for symptoms to ensure maximum safety. He noted that while patients are expected to show symptoms in the coming days, not every symptom will necessarily indicate a hantavirus infection.
The duration of the quarantine is not yet set in stone, though it will last at least a few days. The strain detected on the ship is the Andes virus, which can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that symptoms can appear anywhere from 4 to 42 days after exposure, patients are not required to stay the full 42 days if they can safely complete their monitoring at home. Officials intend to handle this in the least restrictive way possible, provided the patient has the necessary support and structure to remain isolated.
Health experts have been clear that while the risk of the virus spreading is minimal, it is still being treated with extreme caution. Unlike some other viruses, hantavirus is primarily spread through contact with rodents or their waste. While the Andes virus strain can occasionally spread between humans, this usually requires prolonged, direct contact with a sick individual or their bodily fluids. There is currently no specific cure for the virus, which makes early medical intervention vital for improving survival chances.
For now, the government’s focus remains on observation and providing individualized care to those affected.
Published: May 12, 2026 03:00 pm