Bhattacharya urges calm over hantavirus as Americans affected are moved to 42-day isolation

Published May 9, 2026 12:36pm ET | Updated May 9, 2026 12:37pm ET



Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya said he does not expect the hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship to become a pandemic similar to COVID-19, and said the Americans who were on the ship have been taken to an isolation facility.

“This is, again, not like COVID, and the CDC has been working very closely with our international partners, our state and local partners,” Bhattacharya said on Fox News on Saturday morning.

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