NORTHFIELD (May 8, 2026)—CAP Microbiology Committee member Mara Jana Broadhurst, MD, PhD, FCAP, member of the College of American Pathologists’ Microbiology Committee, and associate professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, released the following statement regarding recent hantavirus cases associated with a cruise ship:
“Hantavirus infections are rare and are most often linked to exposure to infected rodents, not casual contact between people,” said Dr. Broadhurst. “While the Andes strain has been associated with limited person-to-person transmission, it appears to require close and prolonged contact and does not spread efficiently like viruses such as COVID-19 or influenza.”
“Although settings like cruise ships can increase exposure to certain infections, current evidence suggests the risk of widespread hantavirus transmission remains low,” Dr. Broadhurst added. “Public health officials are monitoring the situation closely, and standard infection prevention measures remain effective at reducing risk.”