Is Hantavirus spreading in Texas? Cruise Ship connected to Texas passengers sparks new fear about symptoms and human spread

A hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship has prompted fresh questions: Is hantavirus spreading in the United States, and if so, where? Health officials say the risk to the broader public appears low, but the situation is raising alarms after two passengers with ties to Texas left the ship before the outbreak was identified.

Here’s what we know right now about hantavirus cases in Texas, how the virus spreads, and where hantavirus has been found across the country.

Cruise ship outbreak sparks U.S. anxiety, especially in Texas

According to reporting first shared by USA TODAY, two passengers connected to a cruise ship outbreak were from Texas. They left the ship and returned to the U.S. before the outbreak was identified.


The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it would not release personal details about the passengers to protect privacy. But officials said the individuals are not experiencing symptoms and reported no contact with a sick person while aboard the ship.

Still, Hantavirus: Concerns about hantavirus cases in Texas are growing, and for many residents, the big question is whether this means local transmission could take off.

Is hantavirus in Texas? Yes, but it’s extremely rare

Hantavirus is present in Texas, but the number of cases is extremely low.

The CDC notes that Texas has had no reported cases since 2021. Across the period the CDC has tracked the disease, Texas has logged 49 total cases from 1993 through 2023, and fewer than half of those cases, 14, were fatal.

So while Texas is a place where hantavirus can occur, it’s not a state where outbreaks are common. CDC surveillance shows the virus appears sporadically rather than explosively.



Two residents of New Jersey are under monitoring after a potential exposure to Hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, according to state health officials.

The New Jersey Department of Health said it was alerted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the individuals may have been exposed while traveling on an international flight after an infected passenger disembarked from the ship. Officials noted that the two residents were not passengers on the cruise itself and are currently showing no symptoms. They are being monitored strictly as a precautionary measure.

Hantavirus in New Jersey

Two residents of New Jersey are under monitoring after a potential exposure to Hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, according to state health officials.

The New Jersey Department of Health said it was alerted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the individuals may have been exposed while traveling on an international flight after an infected passenger disembarked from the ship. Officials noted that the two residents were not passengers on the cruise itself and are currently showing no symptoms. They are being monitored strictly as a precautionary measure.

Where has hantavirus spread in the U.S.?

Across the United States, the CDC reports 890 cases of hantavirus between 1993 and 2023 (covering hantavirus disease cases tracked during that period).

When looking at where the virus shows up most often, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado appear to have the highest number of reported cases.

• New Mexico: 129 reported cases (1993–2023), the highest total.
• Arizona and Colorado: also among the states with more cases than average, based on CDC data.

Bottom line: Hantavirus isn’t “spreading” like a typical respiratory virus. Instead, it clusters where people are more likely to come into contact with infected rodents.

What is hantavirus, and how do people get it?

Hantaviruses can cause serious illness worldwide. In the U.S., the CDC emphasizes that people typically get hantavirus through contact with rodents, such as rats and mice.

Infection usually happens when people are exposed to contaminated rodent particles, particularly urine, droppings, and saliva. The CDC also notes that it can spread through a rodent bite or scratch, but that’s considered rare.

This is why hantavirus outbreaks often connect to environments where rodent activity and cleanup create exposure.

Does Hantavirus spread between humans?

Human-to-human transmission is not the main pathway for most hantaviruses, but one strain changes the concern level.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) says human-to-human transmission has been documented only for the Andes virus in the Americas, and it remains uncommon.
• The strain implicated in the cruise ship cluster has been identified as Andes virus.

When human-to-human spread occurs, it has been linked to close and prolonged contact, often among household members or intimate partners, especially during the early phase of illness, when a patient may be more infectious.

So, the question isn’t just “Can hantavirus spread?” It’s “Under what conditions, and how likely is that scenario outside of the ship?”

Hantavirus symptoms: what to watch for

Symptoms can start with non-specific signs and may include:

• fatigue
• fever
• muscle aches
• headaches
• dizziness
• chills
• abdominal problems (such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain)

If symptoms develop after a known exposure, particularly rodent exposure, medical evaluation matters quickly, because severe illness can progress.

How to prevent hantavirus (simple steps that help)

The CDC’s prevention guidance centers on reducing contact with rodents and their contamination. Key steps include:

• Eliminate or minimize contact with rodents in your home, workplace, or campsite
• Seal holes and gaps in your home or garage to keep rodents out
• Place traps in and around your home to reduce infestation
• Clean up food sources so rodents aren’t attracted to your space

During cleanup, the CDC stresses doing it safely to avoid breathing in contaminated particles.

So, is hantavirus spreading in the U.S.?

At this stage, public health messaging suggests no widespread U.S. spread is expected, especially because most hantavirus infections come from rodents, not routine person-to-person contact.

But the cruise ship outbreak has fueled concern in places like Texas because it involves U.S. travelers who left the ship before the outbreak was detected. Officials will monitor exposed individuals and watch for symptoms during the incubation window.

For now, the facts point to a familiar reality: Hantavirus is rare in the U.S., and Texas has historically seen very few cases. Still, curiosity, and caution are warranted whenever the virus appears in a high-visibility setting like a cruise ship.