Trump tells Americans not to worry about Hantavirus while promising best efforts

President Trump offered cautious reassurance over a cruise ship hantavirus outbreak killing three, as health authorities across four states monitor returning passengers while WHO maintains the public risk remains low.

President Donald Trump has sought to reassure Americans over a hantavirus outbreak linked to three deaths aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, saying the situation is “very much, we hope, under control.” When pressed whether Americans should be concerned, Trump responded: “I mean, I hope not. We’ll do the best we can.”

Health officials in Arizona, California, Georgia and Virginia are monitoring returning passengers, though none have exhibited symptoms. Only five of eight possible cases aboard the vessel have been confirmed, with WHO assessing overall public health risk as low.

CDC acting director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya stressed that hantavirus “is not spread by people without symptoms” and that “the risk to the American public is very low.” Seventeen Americans remain aboard the ship, currently anchored off Cape Verde.