The CDC has released a Health Alert Network notification advising healthcare professionals and public health organizations throughout the United States to brace for possible cases of Andes virus — an uncommon and deadly variant of hantavirus that spreads uniquely from one person to another. This outbreak began on a cruise ship in the South Atlantic in May 2026, resulting in confirmed fatalities and seriously ill individuals. The CDC is tracking US passengers from the impacted ship and air travel connections in various states. Although the current risk to the general public is deemed extremely low, the CDC has raised its alert status as the Andes virus can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a serious and potentially lethal respiratory illness with no sanctioned antiviral treatments.
