American Passengers with Hantavirus Evacuated from Antarctic Cruise Ship

Two American passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius have tested positive for hantavirus and are being transported to the United States in biocontainment units for isolation. One passenger tested positive for hantavirus, while the other tested positive for the Andes variant of the virus. Both individuals are being repatriated under strict biosafety protocols to prevent potential spread of the rare but dangerous viral infection, which can cause severe respiratory illness and has a high mortality rate.