3 Washington State Adults Linked To Hantavirus Ship Being Watched

The number of people sickened who were linked to a cruise ship outbreak of a deadly virus originating from exposure to rodents is slowly climbing. National reporting has the number of infected Americans at 11 presently, and three Washington State residents are currently being monitored.

An outbreak of the deadly Andes strain of Hantavirus made international headlines last week when officials at Oceanwide Expeditions alerted the public to the problem aboard its MV Hondius passenger ship. The Dutch cruise ship departed Argentina on April 1, 2026.

This week, it was reported that multiple persons are being evaluated for potential exposure to the virus in an area of Washington that's 270 miles west of Moscow, Idaho. The individuals are said to be asymptomatic currently and virus-free.

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Three Western Washington Residents Are Under Evaluation For Potential Hantavirus Exposure

According to details shared by King County News, three Washington State residents are under watch by state health officials who were within close proximity to infected passengers during the process of transporting the ill from the ship to the hospital.

READ MORE: The Difference Between Idaho's Flu And 'Super Flu' Strains

Symptoms of the Hantavirus include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, and others, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hantavirus has a more than 40 percent fatality rate, according to the CDC.

If you believe you may have been in contact with a passenger who recently departed the MV Hondius, contact your local physician immediately for further advice.