Minnesota Health Officials Monitoring Person Potentially Exposed to Rare Andes Hantavirus During Overseas Cruise
Published: May 12 , 2026
Twin Cities, MN — The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced Tuesday, May 12, 2026, that it is monitoring one person in Minnesota who may have been briefly exposed overseas to someone infected with hantavirus, specifically the Andes virus, while aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. Health officials emphasized that the overall risk to the public remains very low.
According to MDH, the Minnesota resident was potentially exposed to a person who later tested positive for the Andes virus, a rare hantavirus strain capable of limited person-to-person transmission. The agency said it is in direct contact with the individual, who has been cooperative and is currently not showing any symptoms.
State health officials said the individual is being monitored daily for symptoms as a precaution. No additional identifying information about the person is being released in order to protect their privacy.
Hantaviruses are a group of viruses primarily spread by rodents and can cause severe illness in humans. Most hantavirus infections occur through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, particularly when contaminated particles become airborne and are inhaled. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, coughing, and shortness of breath, with severe cases potentially leading to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a serious respiratory illness.
The Andes virus is unique among hantaviruses because it is the only known strain capable of person-to-person transmission. However, health officials noted that this type of transmission is uncommon and generally occurs only through close contact with someone actively experiencing symptoms.
MDH said it is continuing to work closely with local public health agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and healthcare partners to monitor the situation and share updated information if conditions change.
Health officials acknowledged that hantavirus has received increased public attention in recent weeks and said they understand why news of a monitored exposure in Minnesota may raise concerns. However, they reiterated that there is currently no indication of broader public risk connected to this incident.
According to the CDC, hantavirus infections remain rare in the United States. Most U.S. cases are linked to exposure to infected deer mice and other rodents, particularly in rural areas or enclosed spaces where rodent droppings may accumulate. Person-to-person spread of hantavirus has not been documented in North America outside of Andes virus cases associated with South America.
More information about hantavirus and prevention measures is available through the Minnesota Department of Health Hantavirus page and the CDC’s Hantavirus information page.
