The United States government is repatriating 17 American citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship following an outbreak of the Andes variant of hantavirus. The Department of Health and Human Services reported that one passenger tested mildly PCR positive for the virus, while another is experiencing mild symptoms. The repatriation involves a State Department airlift flight, with two passengers traveling in biocontainment units for safety. Upon arrival in the U.S., they will be taken to the Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for clinical assessment and care. The outbreak, first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 2, 2026, has resulted in eight total cases, including six confirmed infections and three deaths. The MV Hondius, which departed from Ushuaia on April 1, carried 147 people, including 86 passengers and 61 crew members from various countries. Investigations are ongoing regarding the passengers' contact with wildlife during the expedition.