MV Hondius, a cruise ship that set sail on April 1 from Ushuaia, Argentina, with planned stops in Antarctica and some isolated South Atlantic Ocean islands, reported one of its passengers first fell ill April 6. The 70-year-old Dutch man fell ill with fever, headache and other symptoms before boarding. The man and his wife had gone sightseeing in Ushuaia before traveling to other parts of Argentina and Chile, as reported by the World Health Organization.

On April 11, the Dutch passenger died, and his body was taken off the vessel on St. Helena Island April 24. His wife also disembarked, alongside more than 20 other passengers, with some ending their cruise journey on the island. The wife passed away of the same symptoms April 26 at an airport in South Africa.

The following day, April 27, a third passenger on the ship showed symptoms and was placed in intensive care in South Africa. April 28 saw a German woman fall sick onboard as the vessel traveled to Cape Verde; she succumbed to the virus May 2.

The same day the German passenger died, South African health authorities received a positive result for hantavirus from tests conducted on the British passenger in the intensive unit in South Africa, marking the first time the virus was officially identified as the cause of the deaths.

It is believed hantavirus was contracted when the Dutch couple visited rural sites in Chile and Argentina before boarding the ship.

The WHO declared the virus an outbreak on May 4. Since then, health authorities in Britain, Switzerland, Singapore, South Africa, France and the Netherlands have been contact tracing and isolating passengers who left the ship, as well as those who may have come into contact with these passengers.

On May 10, the ship arrived in Tenerife, and passengers were escorted off by personnel in hazmat suits and protective gear. These disembarked passengers included citizens of Spain, France, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland, Türkiye, the United States and Britain.

Just one day later, an American and a French woman both tested positive for the virus. In Spain, one passenger tested positive May 12. Eighteen Americans are being monitored at health facilities in the United States as of May 12.

So, should you be worried? Hantavirus is typically spread by rodents, but one particular strain, the Andes virus, is known to spread person to person, according to the CDC. That said, this strain does not spread easily and is “usually limited to people who have close contact with a person with symptoms.” The CDC defines close contact as prolonged direct physical contact; prolonged time spent in close or enclosed spaces; and exposure to the infected person’s saliva, respiratory secretions or other bodily fluids.

Currently, the CDC reports the virus is not like the COVID-19 pandemic, and the risk to the American public is “extremely low.”

Fear of the virus comes from its higher mortality rate of 38 percent. While cruise ship passengers are not being quarantined, they are being assessed and monitored by their respective governments. The incubation period for the Andes virus can be up to 42 days, so some passengers may not even show symptoms right away. The monitoring period for passengers began May 10, right after they departed the ship.

The CDC encourages people who think they’ve had contact with a person with Andes virus and are experiencing symptoms to contact a medical professional or state or local health department immediately.

Learn more about the virus and CDC guidelines here.

What are your thoughts on the recent outbreak? Have you ever encountered the virus before on previous travels? Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.