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Hantavirus Updates
Author: Public Health
Date: 5/15/2026 12:44 PM
Risk to the public remains low as state public health officials coordinate with the CDC and other agencies.
Andes Hantavirus Update: No Cases in California (May 13, 2026)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has notified the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) of a fifth California resident potentially exposed to Andes hantavirus during the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The individual left the ship and traveled before the outbreak was identified, briefly returned to California, and are currently in the Pitcairn Islands. They are being monitored by the CDC in coordination with British health officials, and remain asymptomatic.
All five people who may have been exposed are being monitored by public health officials and currently have no symptoms of hantavirus. The two individuals in California are in close contact with local health officials to help ensure they remain healthy and are limiting contact with others as recommended. Read more.
CDPH Confirms Four Californians Being Monitored for Andes Hantavirus Exposure Related to Cruise Ship (May 11, 2026)
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) continues to coordinate with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health officials to monitor four Californians exposed to the outbreak of Andes hantavirus that occurred aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius.
Two of these individuals have returned to their respective homes and are being monitored by their local public health officials. Two additional California residents have been transported to the United States by federal authorities. They will return to California once health assessments have been done and arrangements have been made to protect their and the public’s health. The risk to the public remains extremely low. Read more.
CDPH Aware of California Passengers Exposed to Andes Hantavirus Outbreak on International Cruise Ship (May 8, 2026)
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is closely coordinating with federal and local health partners following CDC notification that California residents were aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, which is experiencing an outbreak of Andes hantavirus. Public health agencies are doing daily symptoms checks and reporting.
There are no known cases of Andes hantavirus infection from people without symptoms. Spread of hantavirus is usually limited to people with prolonged close contact with an ill person. The risk to the general public in California is extremely low. Read more.
