Health officials in the US are monitoring cruise ship passengers after confirmed hantavirus cases aboard the MV Hondius rose to five.
Authorities in Arizona and Georgia are monitoring several residents who recently returned from the cruise ship MV Hondius following a hantavirus outbreak linked to multiple deaths and illnesses onboard.
According to health officials, none of the passengers currently being monitored in the United States have shown symptoms of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the risk to the American public remains “extremely low.”
The outbreak has now reached five confirmed hantavirus cases. More than 100 passengers remain onboard the vessel as the World Health Organization continues health monitoring and contact tracing efforts.
The ship, which had been anchored near Cape Verde, is currently sailing toward the Canary Islands. This comes after three people were medically evacuated, including two passengers in serious condition. Two evacuated patients have already arrived in the Netherlands for specialist treatment.
Health officials said some passengers had already left the ship before the outbreak became widely known. Several countries are now advising former passengers to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially deadly disease usually spread through exposure to infected rodent urine, saliva or droppings. Human-to-human transmission is uncommon, though the WHO said limited spread between close contacts cannot yet be ruled out.
Officials say no symptomatic passengers currently remain onboard, but crew members and medical staff are still considered the highest-risk group due to prolonged exposure to infected individuals.
Authorities worldwide continue to monitor the situation closely as investigations into the outbreak remain ongoing.
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