https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/05/10/you-wont-believe-how-a-simple-birdwatching-stop-created-the-hantavirus-cruise-outbreak-n2202201
While this story says it was because this guy who went bird watching was exposed to some rats or mice, I've heard others say that it's more likely that there were rats and mice on the cruise and that some of their waste dust was circulating through the cruise ship's ventilation system
Outbreak Overview & Patient Zero
The source of the outbreak has been traced back to Leo Schilperoord, a 70 year old Dutch ornithologist.
Exposure: In late March 2026, Schilperoord and his wife visited a landfill outside Ushuaia, Argentina, while searching for the rare Darwin’s caracara.
Pathogen: He is believed to have inhaled virus particles from the droppings of long tailed pygmy rice rats. The strain identified is the Andes virus, which is particularly dangerous because it is the only hantavirus known to spread from person to person.
Timeline: He fell ill on April 6 shortly after boarding the MV Hondius and passed away on the ship five days later. His wife, Mirjam, also tragically passed away from the virus in early May after falling ill during travel to South Africa.
Current Statistics as of May 8 to 11, 2026
The World Health Organization and local health agencies have confirmed the following:
Total Cases: 8 reported cases, with 6 confirmed and 2 probable.
Fatalities: 3 deaths, including the Schilperoords and a German national.
Location: The ship docked in Tenerife, Canary Islands, on May 10 to begin a week long tiered evacuation process by nationality.
U.S. Repatriation & Quarantine
The 17 Americans were evacuated via a government medical flight and arrived in Omaha, Nebraska, early Monday morning, May 11.
National Quarantine Unit: 15 passengers are being monitored at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Officials describe the accommodations as similar to a hotel room but with specialized negative air pressure systems.
Biocontainment Unit: One passenger who tested positive for the virus, though currently asymptomatic, has been admitted to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit for intensive monitoring.
Domestic Monitoring in the U.S.
The CDC and state health departments in Virginia, Georgia, California, Arizona, Texas, and New Jersey are currently monitoring individuals who may have had contact with passengers before the full quarantine was implemented or who traveled through affected regions.
The WHO has emphasized that while the Andes strain’s person to person transmission is concerning, this does not currently constitute a pandemic threat, as the floating incubator environment of the ship significantly contributed to the spread.
