What next for the 17 US passengers who arrived at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska, early on Monday morning, May 11, after being evacuated from the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius in Tenerife? Medical assessment,
specialised quarantine to long-term health monitoring, News18 explains.
Medical evaluation
Upon landing, all passengers were transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) for screening.
One passenger who tested “mildly positive” for the Andes strain of hantavirusand another with “mild symptoms” were placed in specialised biocontainment units for treatment and observation.
The remaining asymptomatic passengers were taken to the National Quarantine Unit at UNMC, the only federally funded facility of its kind in the U.S.
What is the mandatory isolation period?
Because the incubation period for hantavirus can be lengthy, officials have set strict protocols for the coming weeks:
42-Day Monitoring: The CDC and WHO recommend a total of 42 days (6 weeks) of monitoring from the date of last exposure.
Location Flexibility: After an initial assessment in Omaha, passengers may be given the option to return home to finish their isolation, provided their home situation allows for it without risk to the public.
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Daily Checks: Regardless of where they stay, passengers must undergo daily health checks and symptom monitoring (like fever and muscle aches) coordinated by state and local health agencies.
Why is the Andes strain riskier?
Public health officials are taking these aggressive steps because the Andes hantavirus (ANDV) found in this outbreak is unique. Unlike most hantaviruses that only spread through rodent contact, the Andes strain can transmit between people in close-contact environments. This strain is particularly dangerous, with a case fatality rate estimated between 38% and 50%.
About MV Hondius
TheMV Hondius is currently docked at the Port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Spain’s Canary Islands. The ship arrived there on Sunday, May 10, 2026, after multiple ports in West Africa declined entry due to the outbreak.
The vessel originally carried 147 individuals (88 passengers and 59 crew) from 23 different nationalities.The ship is in Tenerife completing a complex evacuation. It is expected to depart for Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Monday afternoon (May 11) for deep cleaning and disinfection.
Roughly 30 crew members will stay on the ship to sail it back to the Netherlands.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a family of viruses primarily spread by rodents that can cause severe, sometimes fatal, respiratory or kidney diseases in humans. The viruses do not make the rodents sick, but humans can become infected by breathing in tiny, airborne particles from dried rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.
Hantavirus typically begins with a “prodromal phase” that feels like a severe flu. Symptoms usually appear 1 to 8 weeks after exposure.
Early symptoms
- High fever and chills
- Severe muscle aches, especially in the thighs, hips, and back
- Fatigue and feeling very weak
- Headache and dizziness
- Abdominal issues: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain.
Two major syndromes
The disease usually progresses into one of two serious conditions based on the geography and the specific virus strain:
1. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
Found mostly in the Americas, this strain attacks the lungs.
Late Symptoms: 4 to 10 days after the early phase, a “late phase” begins.
Shortness of breath and a progressive cough.
Chest tightness as the lungs fill with fluid.
Fatality Rate: Very high, approximately 38% to 40%.
2. Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS)
Found mostly in Europe and Asia, this strain attacks the kidneys.
Late Symptoms: Blurred vision, face flushing, or eye redness.
Kidney failure and severe back pain.
Internal bleeding and low blood pressure.
Fatality Rate: Varies by strain, usually 1% to 15%.
Prevention and Risk
Transmission: Most common when cleaning dusty, enclosed areas like sheds, attics, or garages where rodents have lived.
Human-to-human: Extremely rare; only the Andes virus in South America has shown evidence of spreading between people during close contact.
No cure: There are currently no specific vaccines or antiviral treatments; intensive supportive care in a hospital is the primary treatment.
How did the outbreak happen?
Investigators believethe virus did not originate on the ship, as no rodents were found on board.
The first passenger to fall ill was a 70-year-old Dutch man who had spent months traveling through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay on a bird-watching trip before boarding in Ushuaia on April 1. He likely encountered the virus through rodent droppings or urine during land excursions in South America.
While hantaviruses usually only spread from rodents to humans, the Andes strain is unique because it can spread through human-to-human contact. Health officials believe subsequent cases on the ship were the result of close, prolonged contact with the first infected passenger.
The toll
As of May 11, the official toll includes:
3 Deaths: A Dutch couple and a German national.
8 Reported Cases: 6 laboratory-confirmed as the Andes virus (ANDV) strain and 2 suspected cases.
Evacuation Count: 94 people were repatriated on Sunday alone, with the remaining passengers scheduled to finish leaving by Monday afternoon.
KEY FAQs
What happened to the 17 passengers?
Seventeen passengers were evacuated from MV Hondius after a hantavirus outbreak and flown for medical monitoring and quarantine.
Will they stay isolated?
Yes. Health authorities recommended up to 42 days of isolation and regular health checks to monitor symptoms.
Are all passengers infected?
No. Most passengers were asymptomatic, but some tested positive or showed mild symptoms and are under observation.
With agency inputs
