Health Authorities Monitor Hantavirus Exposure Among Cruise Ship Passengers in Multiple U.S. States
Residents in Georgia, California, and Arizona are under observation after potential exposure to hantavirus aboard a Dutch cruise ship; none have shown symptoms to date.
Health officials in Georgia, California, and Arizona are monitoring residents who were aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, following a deadly hantavirus outbreak on the vessel. To date, none of the individuals under observation have exhibited symptoms of the virus.
The Georgia Department of Public Health is overseeing two residents who are "currently in good health and show no signs of infection," according to a statement from the department. These individuals are adhering to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In California, the Department of Public Health has been informed by the CDC that state residents were present on the MV Hondius. Robert Barsanti, a department spokesperson, stated that the agency is assisting local health authorities with monitoring efforts but did not specify the number of residents involved. "There is no information that the California residents are ill or infected," Barsanti noted. "At this time, the risk to public health in California is low."
Similarly, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported that one resident was a passenger on the ship. A spokeswoman confirmed, "This individual is not symptomatic and is being monitored."
The CDC, which tracks hantavirus cases in the United States, recorded 26 cases in 2023, bringing the total to 890 since monitoring began in 1993. The agency has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the current situation.
The MV Hondius, operated by Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions, experienced a hantavirus outbreak resulting in three deaths and several illnesses among passengers. The ship is currently en route to the Canary Islands, with recent patient evacuations conducted off the coast of Cape Verde. Two patients have been transported to the Netherlands for medical treatment, as stated by Oceanwide Expeditions.
Hantavirus is a rare virus family carried by rodents, with certain strains capable of human-to-human transmission, though such cases are extremely rare. The World Health Organization is investigating the outbreak and its potential implications for public health.
"At this time, the risk to public health in California is low." — Robert Barsanti, California Department of Public Health spokesperson
