California Health Officials Hunt for Dozens of Cruise Passengers After Hantavirus Outbreak

California authorities are urgently searching for more than 20 passengers who disembarked from the cruise ship Hondius without undergoing any screening for exposure to hantavirus, following an outbreak on board.

The search comes after the first confirmed death linked to the virus on the vessel two weeks ago. According to the New York Post, citing local officials, these travelers left the ship without being checked for contact with infected individuals, raising concerns about possible secondary spread of the disease.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had already been monitoring the health of American passengers who, in late April, disembarked on Saint Helena Island and later returned home. Those travelers reside in Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia. Preliminary reports indicated none had shown symptoms at the time.

But now, California health agencies are zeroing in on the group that walked off the MV Hondius without any contact tracing. “More than two dozen passengers went ashore without being evaluated,” one official noted. “We’re actively trying to locate them while health agencies work to determine if the infection has spread further.”

Hantavirus is a rare but serious illness transmitted through rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. It can cause severe respiratory distress and, in some cases, death. The outbreak on the Hondius has put health officials on high alert, especially as passengers scattered across multiple states before anyone realized they hadn’t been screened.

The search continues as authorities urge anyone who traveled on the Hondius to contact public health officials immediately.