Saturday, May 16, 2026

Special Edition: Hantavirus Explained – What’s the Risk?

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This episode answers some of the biggest questions about the rare hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship.

As passengers return to their home countries, including the U.S., epidemiologist Dr. Katelyn Jetelina explains what makes this virus unique, how experts are working to contain it, and what her level of concern is right now for the general public.

Plus, what would change her assessment, why experts are waiting until next week to breathe a little easier, and much more.

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Guest: Dr. Katelyn Jetelina

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina is an epidemiologist and one of the nation’s leading scientific communicators. She is the CEO of 0.05 Findings, which publishes the widely read public health newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist. She also serves as an adjunct professor at the Yale School of Public Health, sits on the medical board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and is a member of the Lancet Commission for Trust and Health. A former advisor to three CDC Directors, Dr. Jetelina continues to counsel several nonprofit health organizations. Her contributions have earned national recognition, including being named to TIME100’s list of the Most Influential People in Health.

Subscribe to Dr. Katelyn Jetelina Substack here

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Statement:

These claims are completely inaccurate. The U.S. government is conducting a coordinated, interagency response led by the Department of State. HHS, through ASPR and CDC, is supporting efforts to protect the health and safety of U.S. citizens, including repatriation, medical evaluation, and public health guidance.

Since the start of the Hantavirus outbreak, the CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to support response activities and deployed a medical team to assess American cruise ship passengers traveling to the Canary Islands. It tracked and notified state health departments of returning U.S. travelers and initiated state-level monitoring of potentially exposed individuals who had already returned. It disseminated traveler risk assessment guidance and published a Health Alert Network advisory to inform clinicians and health departments about the hantavirus cluster linked to the cruise ship. The agency also hosted national stakeholder coordination calls, refined exposure assessment tools, and released a hantavirus outbreak toolkit for the public. In addition, it deployed a team to meet returning American cruise ship passengers in Omaha, Nebraska, for further assessment, monitoring, and coordination.

https://x.com/CDCgov/status/2053534500265644148?s=20

Emily G. Hilliard
Press Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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