Two passengers from the M V Hondius cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak have been brought to Atla

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]Two passengers from the M/V Hondius cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak have been brought to Atlanta, Georgia and are under care at Emory University Hospital, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

[00:00:13]The couple is not from Georgia. One symptomatic patient is in Emory's biocontainment unit and the other, an asymptomatic close contact, is being evaluated and monitored.

[00:00:23]Governor Brian Kemp said Emory is the best place to handle such cases, noting the state's readiness and even signaling White House contact.

[00:00:32]Emory operates one of only four US biosafety containment units capable of monitoring diseases like hantavirus.

[00:00:40]The remaining 16 American passengers are being monitored at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

[00:00:47]Officials described the response as an existing, well-rehearsed system that can absorb passengers as needed, with Kemp and Health and Human Services Matthew Ferreira stressing plans effectiveness and Georgia's commitment to safe management for the public.