Home / Health / CDC Asks Travelers for Voluntary Hantavirus Tests
CDC Asks Travelers for Voluntary Hantavirus Tests
13 May
Summary
- Al Roker reported CDC requested voluntary hantavirus testing.
- Cruise ship outbreak linked to three deaths and eleven cases.
- Hantavirus spreads via rodent contact; Andes virus is contagious.
Weatherman Al Roker shared on May 12 that the CDC requested voluntary testing from travelers returning from Europe, sparking speculation about precautions related to a recent hantavirus outbreak. Roker made these remarks shortly after attending his daughter Leila's wedding in France.
The outbreak, linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, has resulted in eleven confirmed or suspected cases and three fatalities among eighteen monitored Americans. Health officials deem the risk to the general public as low, but vigilance is maintained due to the virus's potential incubation period.
Hantavirus transmission primarily occurs through contact with infected rodents' urine, droppings, or saliva. The Andes virus, found in South America, is an exception, capable of spreading from person to person through close contact with an infected individual. Early symptoms include fatigue, fever, and muscle aches.
