Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared on Monday that the United States has the hantavirus outbreak 'under control,' even as 17 American passengers from a stricken cruise ship remain in quarantine. The comments came during a White House press conference ostensibly focused on mental health, where a reporter pressed President Trump on whether he regretted withdrawing from the World Health Organization given the crisis.
Trump defended the decision to exit the WHO, stating he was 'glad' to have left and repeating his long-standing complaint that the U.S. contributed too much funding. The exchange highlighted tensions over global health coordination as the outbreak unfolded aboard the MV Hondius, a ship that has now seen three deaths and nine confirmed hantavirus cases.
Kennedy detailed the U.S. response, saying CDC teams were deployed 'from day one' and that he personally coordinated with Nebraska officials and the University of Nebraska. 'We had airplanes ready to take the patients, the 17 patients off the vessel and transport,' he said. Two patients were flown to Atlanta, one of whom is symptomatic and now in a biocontainment lab. The remaining 16 are in Nebraska, with one also showing symptoms.
'We have this under control and we're not worried about it,' Kennedy added, echoing assessments from both the CDC and WHO, which have said the risk to the general public remains low. The outbreak has not spread beyond the ship's passengers and crew, officials stressed.
WHO officials confirmed Monday that all remaining passengers and crew have disembarked from the MV Hondius, with special flights arranged to avoid commercial travel. 'Nobody is traveling on commercial flights,' said Nyka Alexander, WHO Manager of Health Emergencies Communication. The latest confirmed case was reported by France, involving a passenger who left the ship Sunday and is now in isolation.
The incident has reignited debate over Trump's decision to cut WHO funding and reduce domestic health agency staffing. Critics argue that such moves could hamper the U.S. ability to respond to emerging infectious diseases. For more on the quarantine and key details, see Hantavirus Cruise Ship Evacuees in US Quarantine: Key Facts. Health officials continue to emphasize that hantavirus is not easily transmitted between humans, reducing pandemic risk. For expert analysis, read Why Hantavirus Won't Spark a New Pandemic, According to Health Officials.
The political fallout from the outbreak is likely to persist, especially as the Trump administration faces scrutiny over its broader health policies. Iran Reveals Demands Trump Rejected as 17 Cruise Ship Americans Return adds an international dimension to the story. Meanwhile, the CDC has confirmed that nine cases are linked to the ship, with one still inconclusive. Oliver le Polain, head of the WHO's Epidemiology and Analytics for Response unit, said the most recent case was reported Sunday.
