The fallout of the hantavirus outbreak unfolding onboard Oceanwide Expeditions’ MV Hondius, which has already resulted in three deaths, has potentially now made its way to the US.

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is actively monitoring two Georgia residents who recently disembarked from the small expedition vessel.

As of the time of this publication, the recent guests are not showing any symptoms of the often deadly infection. They are following the current guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

“The individuals are currently in good health and show no signs of infection,” a Georgia DPH spokesperson told WTOC, a local news outlet.

The news comes shortly after another recent passenger of the 170-guest ship tested positive for the virus in Sweden.

“Swiss authorities have confirmed a case of #hantavirus identified in a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship,” the World Health Organization (WHO) posted on X.

“He had responded to an email from the ship’s operator informing the passengers of the health event, and presented himself to a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, and is receiving care,” WHO continued.

As of May 6, there are a total of eight cases related to the cruise ship outbreak, three of which have been confirmed as hantavirus by laboratory testing.

American Public Should Not Panic

The cruise ship outbreak is extremely rare, and according to the CDC’s archival data, it is the first hantavirus outbreak to occur on a ship in over three decades.

Making the situation even more unusual is that WHO confirmed the virus is the Andes-type, which is the only strain to ever be documented as spreading from human-to-human. Usually, the virus is contracted through exposure to rodents.

Contact tracing and an investigation into the origin of the outbreak is still underway, but health officials do not want the general public to worry at this time. Human-to-human transmission is still very rare and only happens in situations with extremely close contact.

“We understand that people are concerned and looking for information and that is why we provided clear, written health guidance to the American passengers through the State Department. The safety and health of the affected American travelers is our number one goal,” the CDC posted on X.

“Hantavirus is not spread by people without symptoms, transmission requires close contact, and the risk to the American public is very low,” the post continued.

The CDC, along with WHO and other health organizations around the world, will continue to monitor the status of the outbreak and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Additionally, the CDC is preparing to safely bring home the approximately 17 Americans who are still onboard MV Hondius.

Cruise Ship Heads Toward Canary Islands

On May 5, Cruise Hive reported that Spain would be accepting the 5,590-gross ton vessel after it was not permitted to disembark in Africa’s Cape Verde.

After completing medical evacuations for three passengers who were either symptomatic or in close contact with an individual who died from the virus, the small ship is now bound for the Canary Islands.

“We can confirm that the three individuals previously indicated as awaiting medical transfer have been successfully disembarked from m/v Hondius and are now en route via medicalized aircraft to locations able to provide specialized care and appropriate medical screening,” Oceanwide Expeditions said in an update on May 6.

“At this stage, the planned onward destination for m/v Hondius is the Canary Islands. Oceanwide Expeditions remains in close and continual discussion with relevant authorities regarding the exact point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and a precise timeline,” the update added.

As of the time of writing, tracking data shows the vessel cruising at speeds of 12 knots off the coast of Boa Vista, an island in Cape Verde.

The remaining passengers and crew members onboard have been instructed to monitor themselves closely for possible symptoms, and have been encouraged to isolate in their cabins and to practice social distancing.

Two infectious disease physicians, who were flown to the ship from the Netherlands in coordination with the Dutch Institute for Public Health and Environment, joined the ship on May 6 and will remain onboard throughout the journey to the Canary Islands.