Live

Hantavirus live updates: 16 at facility in Nebraska, 2 at hospital in Atlanta

A flight carrying U.S. citizens who were on the ship arrived Monday in Nebraska.

ByChristopher Watson, Ivan Pereira, Jon Haworth, Mary Kekatos, Nadine El-Bawab, Leah Sarnoff, and Kevin Shalvey
Last Updated: May 11, 2026, 4:10 PM EDT

Passengers onboard the MV Hondius cruise ship have disembarked in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, to be transferred to charter flights back to their home countries.

The total number of confirmed and probable cases of hantavirus onboard the ship has risen to 11, including two people confirmed to have died from the virus and one person who remains suspected to have died from the virus.

On Monday, 16 American cruise ship passengers arrived at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; 15 are in the quarantine unit and one person who tested positive is in the biocontainment unit, officials said. Two other American cruise ship passengers were flown to Atlanta for "further assessment and care," officials said.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
May 8, 10:44 am

What is hantavirus and how does it spread?

Here's what you need to know about hantavirus including what it is, how it spreads, how it's treated and if there are any prevention methods:

What is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause serious illnesses and death, according to the CDC.

Stock photo of a colorized electron micrograph of the Hantavirus.
Alfred Pasieka/Science Photo Lib/STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images

How does hantavirus spread?

Hantaviruses may also spread from person to person, but that also is rare and only suspected for one subtype from South America, according to the WHO.

Read more about hantavirus here.

3 hours and 12 minutes ago

Eligible passengers who opt to go home won't fly commercial: CDC

In the coming days, as the cruise ship passengers decide whether to stay at the University of Nebraska quarantine facility or self-monitor at home, those who opt to go home will not fly on a commercial flight, an official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told ABC News. Passengers who opt to go home will have been assessed by health officials for any signs of illness.

A Spanish passenger is sprayed with disinfectant by Spanish government officials before boarding a plane after disembarking from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at Tenerife airport in the Canary Islands, Spain, May 10, 2026.
AP

-ABC News’ Youri Benadjaoud

3 hours and 35 minutes ago

Trump says US in 'good shape,' adding, 'I hope it's fine'

President Donald Trump discussed the hantavirus outbreak on Monday, saying, "We think we're in very good shape. We're very careful."

Civil guard members approach the cruise ship MV Hondius, affected by a hantavirus outbreak, on a motorboat, at the port of Granadilla de Abona, Tenerife, Spain May 11, 2026.
Borja Suarez/Reuters

“It’s been around for a long time," he said of the hantavirus. "People are very familiar with it. So, you know, I hope it's fine."

“All I can do is, everything that a president can do, which is something which is actually somewhat limited,” he continued.

Trump also defended his withdrawal from the World Health Organization earlier this year, saying he is “glad” he made this decision.

“No, I’m glad,” Trump said when asked if he regrets withdrawing from WHO.

“We weren't being treated well, and they were making the wrong diagnoses,” he claimed, later arguing that the organization either “lied” to him or “didn’t know.”

-ABC News’ Emily Chang

3 hours and 55 minutes ago

3 of the newly returned Americans live in New York

On Monday, 16 American cruise ship passengers arrived at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; 15 are in the quarantine unit and one person who tested positive is in the biocontainment unit.

Three of those passengers now in Nebraska are residents of New York, according to New York state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.

The cruise ship MV Hondius, affected by a hantavirus outbreak, receives a delivery at the port of Granadilla de Abona, Tenerife, Spain May 11, 2026.
Borja Suarez/Reuters

“One passenger is from New York City, while the other two are residents of Orange County and Westchester County. All three are expected to be subject to a 42-day monitoring period," McDonald said in a statement.

“It is important to emphasize that there is no immediate risk to the public,” McDonald added.

1:06 PM EDT

2 passengers at Emory in Atlanta, 1 symptomatic and 1 asymptomatic

Emory University Hospital said that, of the two cruise ship passengers now at its Serious Communicable Diseases Unit, one is symptomatic and is “receiving care in Emory’s biocontainment unit.”

The other passenger is asymptomatic and is “undergoing evaluation and monitoring.”

These two passengers are a couple, officials said earlier on Monday.

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola