Live

Hantavirus live updates: 41 people under monitoring across US

Sixteen ship passengers are being monitored in Nebraska's quarantine unit.

ByChristopher Watson, Ivan Pereira, Jon Haworth, Mary Kekatos, Nadine El-Bawab, Leah Sarnoff, and Kevin Shalvey
Last Updated: May 14, 2026, 3:23 PM EDT

The total number of confirmed and probable cases of hantavirus of those who were onboard the MV Hondius cruise ship stands at 10, including two people confirmed to have died from the virus and one person who remains suspected to have died from the virus.

Sixteen American passengers arrived on Monday at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Fifteen of those passengers were being monitored in a quarantine unit and another, who had initially tested positive, was in a biocontainment unit, officials said. Later, that person tested negative and was medically cleared to go to the quarantine unit.

Two other American 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.

May 13, 2026, 9:43 AM EDT

American doctor who tested positive speaks out from quarantine

Dr. Steve Kornfeld, a physician who was onboard the MV Hondius and stepped in when the ship's physician contracted the virus, opened up about his own quarantine in Nebraska.

Dr. Steve Kornfeld is shown in this undated file photo. Dr. Kornfeld spoke with ABC News while aboard the M/V Hondius.
Courtesy Dr. Steve Kornfeld

Speaking to CNN, Kornfeld talked about being in the biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center after he too tested positive for the hantavirus.

After experiencing "night sweats, chills and mild respiratory symptoms, as well as more than two weeks of severe fatigue," he told CNN that he is experiencing no symptoms and is in good spirits.

Kornfeld added that the time is passing quickly and he's spending a lot of time on WhatsApp.

May 13, 2026, 5:27 AM EDT

Minnesota monitoring person 'potentially exposed' to hantavirus, Health Department says

The Minnesota Department of Health said it’s monitoring the condition of a person who "may have briefly been exposed overseas" to another person who tested positive for hantavirus after being on board the MV Hondius.

"MDH is in contact with the person who was exposed," the department said in a statement on Tuesday. "They have been very cooperative, and we are monitoring them daily for symptoms. The person does not currently have symptoms. MDH will not release any additional information on the person to protect their privacy."

-ABC News’ Jessica Gorman

May 12, 2026, 7:56 PM EDT

Potential hantavirus case in Illinois not related to ship outbreak, health officials say

The Illinois Department of Health said Tuesday it is investigating a potential case of hantavirus in a Winnebago County resident that is not connected to the MV Hondius outbreak.

"The resident lives in Winnebago County, has not travelled internationally, and has not come in contact with individuals associated with the MV Hondius outbreak," the health department said in a statement. "They are suspected to have acquired a North American strain of the virus while cleaning a home where rodent droppings were present."

The individual experienced mild symptoms and did not require hospitalization. The health department said it is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on additional testing to confirm if it is a hantavirus case.

Unlike the strain of hantavirus in the cruise outbreak, the North American strains are not known to spread from person-to-person, health officials said.

May 12, 2026, 3:39 PM EDT

American quarantining in Nebraska shares video tour of his room

Jake Rosmarin, who is among the 15 hantavirus-negative passengers quarantining at the University of Nebraska Medical Center after disembarking the MV Hondius cruise ship, shared a video tour of his room on Instagram on Tuesday.

Rosmarin showed off his stationary bike, TV, bed, recliner and desk, saying, “The room is very spacious and comfortable.”

“I’m hoping to give more updates while I’m here. I’m feeling well,” he said.

Rosmarin told ABC News earlier on Tuesday that he is not experiencing any symptoms and plans on remaining in quarantine for the next 42 days.

"I think that is the best decision that's for me and for my family, and I know that here, I'm in the best care possible," Rosmarin said.

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola