Image Credit: Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images Ever since the world recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, any viral outbreak tends to cause concern. Now that a hantavirus outbreak - specifically the Andes virus - has been discovered on a cruise ship, Americans are concerned that any infected passengers could spread it. So, is the virus in the U.S.? Below, learn about the 2026 outbreak of hantavirus and what it means for Americans. What Is Hantavirus? Hantavirus is a rare and potentially fatal virus.