U.S. WHO Exit Hampers Response to Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak

JERSEY CITY, N.J. —

Health experts say the U.S. may lack immediate access to critical data as a deadly hantavirus outbreak spreads among cruise ship passengers, including Americans.

A deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a Dutch-operated cruise ship has raised concerns about the United States’ ability to respond to global health threats after formally leaving the World Health Organization in January. The outbreak, which has killed three passengers and infected at least five others, involves passengers from 23 nationalities, including six Americans who have since returned to states such as Arizona, California, Georgia and Virginia. Health experts warn that without WHO membership, the U.S. may not receive timely surveillance data and contact tracing information crucial for preventing additional infections.

For Hudson County residents, this story underscores how the loss of global health partnerships could affect local safety. With Port Jersey and other regional hubs connecting the area to international travel, any delay in outbreak data could increase risks for communities like Jersey City and Hoboken.

The U.S. formally left the WHO in January after 78 years of membership, terminating funding, pulling staffers from WHO offices and severing participation in committees. President Donald Trump cited the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for withdrawal. Now, health experts say the U.S. might not get immediate access to virus sequencing and contact tracing information related to the Andes virus outbreak aboard the Oceanwide Expeditions ship.

“The access that we got as being members and as being important donors to WHO is gone,” said Amira Albert Roess, a professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University. “Ordinarily, CDC experts would have been part of the teams sequencing the virus. Now, the U.S. might have to learn about results secondhand.”

The Department of Health and Human Services referred questions to the CDC website, which says the State Department has been in direct contact with cruise ship passengers and is “working closely with our international partners to provide technical assistance and guidance to mitigate risk.” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement that the administration is “working with the CDC and State Department to monitor and respond” and that “possible risks to the American public remain low.”

“We have very positive, regular interaction almost every single day,” said Anaïs Legand, WHO’s technical lead for viral hemorrhagic fevers, noting that international health regulations require countries to report public health threats.

⚡ Nearly 150 people remain confined to their cabins on the cruise ship, which is headed for the Canary Islands. Evacuations could begin Monday. Three passengers have died, including a Dutch couple and a German woman. Five current or former passengers have confirmed infections, with three more suspected. The virus’ incubation period can last up to six weeks.

Stephanie Psaki, former coordinator for global health security during the Biden administration and now a senior fellow at Brown University, said that as a WHO member, the U.S. often received advanced updates about disease outbreaks days or weeks before public announcements. “By the time the information is shared publicly, the experts at WHO and CDC often already knew it for days or weeks,” she said. “Even when there are lots of actors involved, it happens more quickly and effectively when the U.S. government is involved.”

The National Public Health Coalition, a group of current and former CDC officials, said in a statement: “This is a critical example of why the U.S. needs global public health partnerships. The withdrawal from the WHO puts people in the U.S. at higher risk and raises an important question: Are countries still sharing information with the U.S. quickly enough to keep us safe?”

🔄 The cruise ship is expected to reach the Canary Islands soon, where evacuations may begin. The CDC continues to monitor the situation and coordinate with state health departments. Hudson County residents are advised to stay informed through local health alerts, though the risk to the general public remains low.

The outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the interconnected nature of global health and the potential consequences of diminished international cooperation, even for communities far from the epicenter.

📎 NBC News