CDC Monitors 41 Hantavirus Cases Exposure After Cruise Outbreak

The CDC is monitoring 41 people in the United States for potential hantavirus cases exposure after a rare Andes hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship. David Fitter, the agency’s incident manager for hantavirus response, said Thursday that those under monitoring should stay at home and avoid being around people during the 42-day period.

Fitter said, “Most people under monitoring are considered high-risk exposures, and CDC recommends that everyone under monitoring stay at home and avoid being around people during their 42-day monitoring period.” He added, “We emphasize not to travel across all these groups.”

MV Hondius Passengers

The monitoring covers passengers who were on the ship, including 18 people now in quarantine facilities in Nebraska and Georgia. The CDC is also watching passengers who returned home before the outbreak was identified, along with people exposed during travel, including on flights where a symptomatic case was present.

As of Thursday, the World Health Organization had confirmed 11 cases of the Andes virus among passengers of the MV Hondius and three deaths. All Americans who were on board the Hondius at any point during its journey are back in the United States.

CDC Monitoring Plan

The CDC is not using federal quarantine and isolation orders to manage all 41 potentially exposed individuals. Fitter said, “Our approach is based on risk and evidence,” and added, “We are working closely with passengers and public health partners to ensure monitoring and rapid access to care if symptoms develop. Our goal is to work with them and alongside them, building plans based on their specific situations to protect the health and safety of passengers and American communities.”

The 42-day monitoring period tracks the time hantavirus symptoms can take to appear after exposure. Those symptoms can begin as flu-like illness with fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, then quickly progress to severe respiratory distress.

Andes Virus Risk

The Andes virus is a strain of hantavirus found in South America that can spread from person to person. The CDC says the public risk remains low, but the exposure window on the cruise ship and during travel has left a defined group of travelers under monitoring now.