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Cruise Ship Hantavirus Deaths Spark US Briefings
16 May
Summary
- Three people died from Andes hantavirus on a cruise ship this month.
- U.S. health officials are briefing the White House daily on the response.
- Forty-one U.S. residents are being monitored for possible infection.
A deadly Andes hantavirus outbreak aboard a luxury cruise ship, which resulted in three fatalities, is now under daily scrutiny by U.S. health officials. The White House and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are receiving continuous updates on the situation.
While the risk to the broader U.S. public is considered very low, with no confirmed cases domestically, 41 U.S. residents are being monitored for potential infection. Of these, 18 were passengers who returned to the United States before the outbreak was identified and are now in quarantine in Nebraska and Atlanta.
Health authorities have issued guidance for identifying and monitoring individuals with potential exposure. Those considered high-risk include people who were on the ship between April 6 and May 10, had close contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids, or were seated near a sick individual during air travel.
Public health scientists have raised concerns about the initial U.S. response speed. High-risk contacts are advised to self-isolate for six weeks, limit contact with others, and coordinate any necessary travel with their state health department.
