U.S. cruise passengers return home after hantavirus case detected
One American tested positive for hantavirus during the return flight; a French passenger also tested positive.
By Polaris Newsroom
11 May, 2026
A group of American cruise passengers has arrived back in the United States after one tested positive for hantavirus during their return flight. The American passenger tested what officials described as "mildly" positive for the virus.
Five French passengers who were also on the cruise were repatriated to Paris. A French woman among this group also tested positive for hantavirus.
Hantavirus is spread to humans through contact with infected rodents or their droppings. The virus can cause a serious respiratory illness in people. Cases are relatively rare in the United States.
The exact location of the cruise and how the passengers may have been exposed to the virus was not immediately clear. Health officials typically investigate such cases to identify the source of infection.
No additional details about the other passengers or their health status were provided at this time.
Reporting incorporates material from a third-party source. Original
