By ThisIsTopeka Staff | May 12, 2026
Kansas health officials confirmed Monday that three state residents are being monitored following a high-risk exposure to the Andes strain of hantavirus — the same virus behind a deadly outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean that has claimed three lives internationally.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), working in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health departments, stressed that there are currently no confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus in Kansas, and that the risk to the general public remains extremely low.
How Did This Happen?
The three Kansans were not aboard the MV Hondius — the Dutch expedition cruise ship at the center of the outbreak — but came into contact internationally with someone who was. That individual later tested positive for the Andes hantavirus.
KDHE says “high-risk exposure” can include prolonged close contact or shared living space with a symptomatic individual, or close proximity during travel. The three individuals are not currently showing any symptoms and are being monitored as a precaution.
What’s the Situation Nationally?
Seventeen Americans and a British dual-national were airlifted from the MV Hondius and brought to the United States earlier this week. Sixteen are being housed and monitored at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. One American tested mildly positive on a PCR test for the Andes virus — and importantly, that person has shown no symptoms. A second passenger who did show mild symptoms later tested negative for the virus.
Two additional passengers were transferred to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta for further monitoring.
Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb noted over the weekend that the American passengers being brought home are likely “nearing the end of the transmission window” for the virus.
Should Kansans Be Worried?
The short answer: no — but here’s why it matters to stay informed.
The key distinction with the Andes strain is that you cannot spread it unless you are symptomatic. Unlike COVID-19, which could be transmitted by people who felt perfectly fine, the Andes virus does not appear to spread from person to person during the pre-symptomatic phase.
Kaylee Hervey, epidemiology program manager for the Sedgwick County Health Department, put it plainly: “Although there is a risk for person-to-person transmission, it’s not going to be like what you saw with COVID-19. It’s going to be very close contact — people with prolonged, close exposure.”
The three Kansans currently being monitored have no symptoms, meaning they present no transmission risk to anyone around them even if the virus is present.
What Is Hantavirus, and Where Does It Usually Come From?
Hantavirus is a family of viruses primarily spread through contact with infected wild rodents — their droppings, urine, or saliva. In the United States, hantavirus cases are rare (averaging around 30 per year) and mostly occur in the western part of the country.
The Andes strain is unique among hantaviruses because it is the only known strain capable of spreading from person to person — and even then, only through close, prolonged contact with someone who is actively symptomatic.
Early symptoms of Andes virus infection typically appear 4 to 42 days after exposure and can include:
- Fever and fatigue
- Muscle aches and headache
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
In more severe cases, the illness can progress to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), affecting the lungs and causing coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. There is currently no specific antiviral treatment; care focuses on supportive medical management.
What Should Kansans Do?
Health officials are not recommending any changes to daily life for the general public. However, KDHE does offer this ongoing guidance around hantavirus more broadly:
- Avoid contact with wild rodents and their droppings, urine, or nesting materials
- Wear a mask when cleaning areas where rodents may have been present
- Wash hands frequently, especially after being outdoors or handling materials in spaces where rodents could be active
“For anyone in the United States, it’s about watching what you’re doing around rodents,” Hervey said. “If you’re cleaning out an area where there may be potential rodents, you can wear some kind of mask or other protection so you’re not breathing it in.”
The Bottom Line
Three Kansans are being carefully watched by state and federal health officials following an international exposure — a sign the system is working as intended. There are no confirmed cases in Kansas. The person who tested positive in the U.S. is stable, asymptomatic, and isolated at a specialized facility in Nebraska. Transmission to the general public is not a concern at this time.
KDHE says it will provide further updates to the public as necessary.
