Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is
issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update to inform clinicians and
health departments about testing available for patients with suspected hantavirus
infection to include Andes virus. CDC first issued a Health Advisory (CDCHAN-00528)
about this outbreak on May 8, 2026. Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that typically
spread to people who come in contact with sylvatic rodents. These viruses can
cause severe illness or death in humans. Andes virus, a type of hantavirus endemic
in South America, is the only type of hantavirus that is known to spread from person
to person. Several other New World hantaviruses are endemic to the United States and are
not transmissible from person to person. New World hantaviruses can cause
hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a potentially serious disease that can
cause damage to the lungs.
On May 2, 2026, an outbreak of Andes virus on a cruise
ship was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). This outbreak has
raised the possibility of cases being imported to the United States. As of May
18, no confirmed cases of Andes virus associated with the outbreak on the cruise
ship have been reported in the United States. Therefore, the overall risk to
the American public is still considered extremely low at this time. CDC and
health departments in several states are monitoring the health of U.S.
passengers from the ship and U.S. air travel contacts of symptomatic
ship passengers who were subsequently confirmed to have Andes virus infection. This
Health Update informs clinicians about testing and consultation that are
available for Andes virus and other hantaviruses endemic to the United States,
South America, and other nations.
