U.S. Health Officials Monitor Cruise Passengers In Multiple States After Hantavirus Outbreak

A number of American cruise passengers who may have been exposed to hantavirus are being monitored at home after returning from the Dutch ship M.V. Hondius.

The passengers — two in Texas, two in Georgia, one in Virginia, one in Arizona, and one in California — disembarked on the remote South Atlantic island of Saint Helena and are all reported to be in good health. They are still being monitored by health officials in their respective states, as life-threatening symptoms can still develop weeks after the initial exposure. None of the passengers were aware when they left the cruise ship that they might have been exposed.

Oceanwide Expeditions, the company that operates the Dutch cruise ship, released a statement on Thursday: “These disembarked guests have all been contacted by Oceanwide Expeditions. We are working to establish details of all passengers and crew who embarked and disembarked on various stops of M/V Hondius since March 20.”

Hantavirus is most commonly transmitted through contact with rodent droppings, but the Andes virus — which primarily attacks the respiratory system and can carry a mortality rate of up to 50% — can be transmitted from person to person. The Andes virus, according to the World Health Organization, is responsible for the Hondius outbreak. Other strains of hantavirus can cause what’s known as Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), a condition that can cause the kidneys to shut down.

The ship has been stranded for several days — with travelers trapped on board — as officials determine when and where passengers will be permitted to disembark. The next destination is likely to be Spain’s Canary Islands.

Since the outbreak began, seven cases have been identified — two through lab testing and five through medical evaluation. According to the WHO, three of those patients have died and one still remains critical — and three more have had only mild symptoms of infection.

Travelers in at least seven other countries are also monitoring for signs of illness after leaving M.V. Hondius.