90-Second Read: 2 NJ residents exposed to Hantavirus that caused cruise ship outbreak

The Garden State residents are not currently showing symptoms of illness and were not passengers on the cruise ship MV Hondius, where several people were infected and three died, New Jersey health officials said. Several international travelers on board the cruise ship, now off the coast of West Africa, have been infected with a particular strain of Hantavirus known as the Andes virus, according to the World Health Organization, which was first notified of the outbreak on May 2. As of May 7, eight cases of the Andes virus linked to the cruise ship outbreak have been confirmed and three people have died, according to the World Health Organization.

Hantavirus, in general, is typically diagnosed through discussing possible exposures with a medical provider, since symptoms can appear similar to other illnesses, according to the New York state Department of Health. Hantaviruses can be carried in rodent droppings, saliva or urine and then inhaled by humans, creating a risk for anyone entering a poorly ventilated building with a rodent infestation, according to the New York state health department. While New York City has its fair share of rodents, most cases of Hantavirus in the United States have been found west of the Mississippi River, according to the New York state Department of Health.

According to the state health department, the best way to prevent exposure to Hantavirus is to avoid contact with live or dead rodents as well as their droppings and urine and to avoid disturbing any rodent burrows or nests. But the New York state Department of Health says early medical care to address the symptoms is crucial, and that anyone suspected of having Hantavirus should be taken to an emergency room or intensive care unit immediately for close monitoring. Rather, the pair were exposed to someone who had been on the cruise, according to the department.