RFK Jr. downplays hantavirus threat after cruise‑ship outbreak, defends WHO withdrawal
During a May 10 press briefing in the Oval Office, President Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told reporters that the United States has the hantavirus “under control” despite a recent outbreak on a cruise ship that resulted in more than 30 confirmed cases. The comments came after a reporter asked whether the Trump administration regretted withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this year.
The hantavirus incident, traced to rodent exposure on the Atlantic‑bound vessel *Oceanic Star*, raised concerns about the spread of the disease on densely populated travel settings. The CDC has issued travel advisories but maintains that the outbreak is contained to the ship’s crew and passengers, who have been quarantined in New York. Historically, hantavirus cases in the U.S. have been rare, with an average of 20 reported annually, according to the CDC.
The Hill notes that Kennedy responded to the WHO question by saying, “We made the decision based on a broader set of concerns, and today we’re still protecting American health.” Reuters corroborated that the president’s office declined to comment further on the withdrawal, emphasizing the administration’s focus on domestic health measures. A spokesperson for the WHO called the U.S. decision “counterproductive,” especially amid emerging zoonotic threats.
Public‑health experts suggest that the President’s minimization of the hantavirus risk could undermine public confidence, especially as the cruise industry works to reassure travelers. Dr. Elise Grant of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health warned that “downplaying a novel outbreak risks complacency, which can exacerbate spread.”
The situation will be monitored by the CDC, which plans to release a full report by the end of the month. Meanwhile, congressional hearings on the WHO withdrawal are slated for late June, where lawmakers will question the administration’s rationale and its impact on future pandemic preparedness.