Maryland health officials are monitoring 2 residents for possible hantavirus exposure after contact linked to a passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship who tested positive for the virus. The residents were not cruise passengers themselves, and officials said the watch is being done out of an abundance of caution. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The Maryland Department of Health said the public risk remains low. Officials said the residents are being monitored through the 4- to 42-day incubation period for hantavirus. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Health officials also said the recently identified strain was Andes virus, the only known hantavirus strain that can spread between people. They said that transmission is rare and usually requires prolonged, close contact with an infected person or their body fluids. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Most U.S. hantavirus cases are tied to contact with rodents, while Andes virus is mainly found in South America. Maryland has had no hantavirus cases since 2019 and no known Andes virus infections, officials said. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Officials urged people who have recently traveled internationally and who develop fever, fatigue or shortness of breath to contact a health care provider. They also said the risk to the general public remains low. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The Maryland monitoring comes as Illinois officials on May 12 said they were investigating a separate possible hantavirus case in Winnebago County, which initial findings said was not linked to the cruise outbreak. Illinois said the sample had been sent to the CDC for testing, with results expected in about 10 days. [7, 8]
France 24 reported on May 13 on the MV Hondius outbreak, which has been linked to at least 10 confirmed or suspected cases and 3 deaths. [1, 2, 3, 4, 9]
