NC resident evacuated from cruise ship amid hantavirus outbreak

A North Carolina resident is among the passengers evacuated from the M/V Hondius cruise ship amid hantavirus concerns, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported Monday.

Hantavirus is a rare group of viruses primarily spread by the inhalation of mouse feces and urine. One form, the Andes virus, can be spread between human beings. There is no specific treatment, and the viruses have a high mortality rate. The outbreak aboard the cruise ship has killed three.

The North Carolina resident has been evacuated to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s National Quarantine Unit, along with other cruise passengers, according to a news release. NCDHHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not releasing further information on the passenger at this time to protect their privacy.

There are no cases of hantavirus in North Carolina at this time, and the risk of contracting it remains extremely low, NCDHHS wrote.

“Our public health team is among the best in the country and remains ready to respond as the situation evolves,” Dr. Kelly Kimple, director of NCDHHS Division of Public Health, said in the press release. “We are in constant communication with federal, state and local officials and are prepared to assist the individual and protect the health and well-being of all North Carolinians.”

The cruise ship had 147 passengers and crew members. Federal health officials will determine when those taken to Nebraska will return to their homes. They will be monitored for symptoms for 42 days after possible exposure.

There has only been one documented case of hantavirus in North Carolina — in 1995. No cases have been documented since, according to NCDHHS.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome symptoms

Hantaviruses cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. Symptoms begin to show one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent, or in rare cases, an infected person, according to the CDC.

Early symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups

About half of HPS patients experience:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Chills
• Abdominal problems like nausea, diarrhea and/or vomiting

Four to 10 days after initial illness, patients may develop coughing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest from fluid building in the lungs, according to the CDC.

Portions of this story were previously published in The News & Observer and Charlotte Observer.

This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 5:48 PM.

Eva Flowe

The Charlotte Observer

Eva Flowe is a North Carolina native and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. She joined the Charlotte Observer as part of the NC service journalism team in April 2026.