US CDC monitoring 41 people for hantavirus after deadly cruise infection

The Andes hantavirus outbreak that killed three people aboard a luxury cruise ship has raised concerns in the United States, with 41 people being monitored for possible infection. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that there are no confirmed cases of the hantavirus outbreak in the US, but individuals who may have been exposed are being closely monitored.

Among the 41 individuals being monitored, 18 are quarantined in Nebraska and Atlanta. Most of them have been advised to stay at home and avoid contact with others during the six-week monitoring period. The University of Nebraska Medical Center is currently monitoring 16 of the passengers who were flown back to the US. One passenger who was initially placed in a biocontainment unit has been medically cleared to move to a quarantine unit with the others.

The CDC has a team of over 100 staff members working on the outbreak response, following criticism that US health authorities did not respond quickly enough. The Andes hantavirus, primarily spread by rodents but can be transmitted between people in rare cases, was reported in early May aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. Three individuals, including a Dutch couple and a German national, have succumbed to the virus.

Despite the severity of the outbreak, the World Health Organization emphasized that it is not comparable to COVID-19 and does not pose a pandemic threat. More cases are expected to be linked to the cluster on the cruise ship. The CDC continues to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary.