Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responding to an outbreak of the Andes virus, a type of hantavirus, affecting passengers and crew of a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. No cases linked to this outbreak have been confirmed in the United States. According to the CDC, the risk of a pandemic and the overall public risk in the U.S. and for travelers remains very low.
The CDC worked with U.S. government agencies and international partners to promptly and safely repatriate U.S. passengers from the cruise ship. On May 10, 18 remaining passengers were transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Quarantine Unit for evaluation and monitoring over a 42-day period. Seven passengers who had returned earlier are at home, monitored by their state and local health departments.
Throughout the response, the CDC has provided technical assistance to public health authorities managing the outbreak. All exposed passengers are under observation by public health officials. The CDC operates 24/7 at U.S. ports of entry to respond to ill travelers and partners with federal agencies, health departments, airlines, and international organizations to track and monitor individuals potentially exposed to infectious diseases during travel. Port health stations help limit the introduction and spread of contagious diseases within the United States.