(Gray News) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a level 3 emergency response in connection with the cruise ship-linked hantavirus outbreak that has left three people dead.

The CDC said it activated its emergency operations center and classified the outbreak as a level 3, according to CNN.

EN ESPAÑOL | Los CDC emiten nivel 3 de emergencia en EE.UU. por el hantavirus

“Our hearts go out to the passengers aboard the cruise ship M/V Hondius and their families during this difficult time. Our CDC team began coordinating with domestic and international partners as soon as we were notified of a hantavirus situation,” Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the CDC’s acting director, said online.

A level 3 response is the agency’s lowest level of emergency and is considered typical in this stage of an outbreak, ABC News reported. It means the CDC is actively monitoring the situation, but the risk to the general public is low.

Health officials in several states, including Georgia, Virginia and Texas, reported they are monitoring passengers who were on the cruise where the outbreak occurred.

“We understand that people are concerned and looking for information and that is why we provided clear, written health guidance to the American passengers through the State Department. The safety and health of the affected American travelers is our number one goal,” Bhattacharya said.

The CDC’s response regarding the hantavirus outbreak echoes those of global health officials. The World Health Organization said the risk to the wider public remains low because hantavirus is not easily spread between people.

“This is not the next COVID, but it is a serious infectious disease,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness at the World Health Organization. “Most people will never be exposed to this.”

The rare illness is typically spread by contact with rodents or their saliva, urine and droppings.

Copyright 2026 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.