CDC monitors 24 Americans after 3 deaths on Antarctica cruise voyage

What the CDC said about the outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Alert Network advisory on May 10 after a fatal hantavirus outbreak aboard the M/V Hondius, a cruise ship that sailed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 and visited Antarctica and South Atlantic islands. Officials said there have been at least 8 cases, including 6 confirmed and 2 suspected, with 3 deaths among 147 passengers and crew from 23 countries.

The illness involves Andes virus, which can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. It spreads mainly through infected rodents and can, more rarely, pass between people through close contact. The CDC and World Health Organization said the broader risk to U.S. travelers remains low and investigations are still looking at possible wildlife exposure during Antarctic stops. nomad news

Who was affected

The outbreak has centered on cruise passengers and crew from the expedition voyage. WHO said symptom onset ranged from April 6 to 28, with cases identified after the ship’s return through the South Atlantic.

U.S. officials said about two dozen Americans were on board, including 17 still aboard and 7 who had already disembarked earlier in the trip. The CDC has sent a team to the South Atlantic to help with exposure reviews and passenger follow-up.

What travelers are being told to do

Passengers with possible exposure are being assessed in the South Atlantic before repatriation to the United States, where they may be monitored for 45 days. Symptomatic travelers are told to self-isolate and seek care early if fever, fatigue or muscle pain turns into breathing trouble.

The CDC advises avoiding rodent areas, using hand hygiene and wet-cleaning methods and clinicians are urged to use airborne precautions and N95 masks when evaluating suspected cases. Read our full Antarctica guide for the complete picture.