Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday that the U.S. has the hantavirus outbreak under control [1, 2].

The statement aims to reassure the public following an outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has caused significant concern regarding the spread of the virus.

Kennedy said during a press conference on mental health held in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C. [2]. He said reporters that the government is not worried about the situation and that the public health threat from hantavirus is low [1, 2].

"We have this under control and we’re not worried about it," Kennedy said [1].

The outbreak is linked to the MV Hondius, a cruise ship where passengers disembarked on May 10, 2026 [3]. According to reports, the outbreak has resulted in three deaths [1].

President Donald Trump also addressed the situation during the event. He said the U.S. is in very good shape [1].

The administration's focus remains on monitoring the health of those who were on the vessel and ensuring that the virus does not spread further into the general population. The hantavirus is typically associated with rodent droppings, but the specific circumstances of the cruise ship outbreak have drawn national attention.

“"We have this under control and we’re not worried about it."”

The administration is attempting to prevent public panic by framing the hantavirus incident as a contained event. By emphasizing that the threat is low and the situation is under control, officials are seeking to maintain stability while managing the fallout from the deaths linked to the MV Hondius.