Americans Quarantined After Deadly Cruise Hantavirus Outbreak: What We Know

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]Now to this. We're getting some breaking news just into the newsroom in the last 20 minutes or so. Uh Spain's health ministry says a Spanish passenger evacuated from that antivirus stricken cruise ship has tested positive for the virus this morning. The World Health Organization now confirming 11 cases, including the three people who died.

[00:00:19]Meanwhile, you've got at least 18 people who are now being monitored here in the United States after they were evacuated from that same ship. At least one of the two people taken to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta has tested positive.

[00:00:32]NewsNation national correspondent Xavier Walton has more from Dallas. Xavier, we're learning more about who these passengers are and uh and where they're from as well.

[00:00:43]Marky, good morning. We are and that's why containment and contact tracing is so important. Two of the 18 uh Americans are at Atlanta's Emory University Hospital. Officials say, you know, the couple was sent there uh to sort of preserve space, if you will, at the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha, Nebraska. Now, one is asymptomatic. The other is experiencing mild symptoms, but um hasn't tested positive, according to officials. Now, the CDC says this is all part of the long-standing outbreak preparedness plan.

[00:01:10]And this haunt virus, the Andes virus is one of is the only strain that is personto person but again very difficult to spread is close contact uh with bodily secretions or respiration sharing things intimately toothbrush etc. We want people to understand we know this virus it's not novel and we know what we need to do.

[00:01:34]>> Okay. Okay, so the one American who did test mildly PCR positive with haunt virus is in Omaha and isolated in their own bioontainment unit. CDC officials say additional testing is underway after one pre- returnturn test showed mixed PCR results. Meanwhile, you know, health departments in California, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, where we are, say they are closely monitoring their residents who were potentially exposed to haunt virus, but weren't notified until after uh they left the boat emptyas. And Maryland's Department of Health, they also say that they're monitoring two residents uh who were on the flight that briefly included a passenger uh from that ship. Meanwhile, we are learning more about potentially uh who being housed in both Atlanta and in Omaha. According to New York, Governor Kathy Hokll, three are New Yorkers. So, the next step, Marky, you know, for everyone on that ship, uh weeks of close monitoring and quick isolation, too, if they start showing symptoms, remember that incubation period is anywhere from one to eight weeks, Marky?

[00:02:33]>> Yeah. 42 days um before symptoms start popping in in some patients. Praying this all stays low risk. Xavier Walton live for us in Texas. Thank you.

[00:02:42]>> Thank you for watching. Subscribe below and download our NewsNation app right now on your phone and you will get fact-based, unbiased news for all Americans.