90-Second Read: 3 King County residents possibly exposed to Hantavirus linked to infected cruise ship

Three King County residents are being monitored by public health officials after potential exposure to the Hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. SEATTLE, Three King County residents are being monitored by public health officials after potential exposure to the Andes type of Hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, the epicenter of a current outbreak that has resulted in the deaths of at least three people. Two of the residents were seated on an airplane near an ill cruise ship passenger who was removed from the plane before takeoff and later tested positive for the Andes type of Hantavirus. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | How concerned should Seattle cruise passengers be about Hantavirus? Public Health, Seattle & King County said it was notified by the Washington State Department of.

Both of those residents have returned to King County, are not showing symptoms, and are monitoring for symptoms at home in coordination with Public Health. Public Health said it is also aware of a third King County resident who was a passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship. In contrast, we have a lot more information about Hantavirus and how it spreads." The current outbreak, tied to Andes virus cases connected to the MV Hondius, has prompted comparisons to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization says the outbreak has now reached 11 total cases worldwide, nine of which have been confirmed. Alex Greninger, head of the Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics at the University of Washington Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, said Hantaviruses behave.

These are measures that have contained the spread in previous outbreaks of Hantavirus." Hantavirus infections are rare but can cause severe illness. The Andes virus is the only known type of Hantavirus that can spread from person to person, though officials said that type of transmission is rare, and studies show spread between people typically requires prolonged, close contact with someone who is sick with the Andes virus. Hantavirus symptoms begin 1, 8 weeks after exposure to rodent waste, starting with flu-like fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. The risk of this virus spreading to residents of King County is low at this time. However, officials say the risk to the public remains low, and there are no current cases in King County.

Greninger explained that Washington state already has its own form of Hantavirus, known as Sin Nombre virus, which is typically spread through exposure to rodent droppings or urine, often in cabins, sheds, or rural areas. The county also warned that deer mice can carry Hantavirus in wooded rural and suburban settings, including cabins, garages, sheds, and vehicles. Valenciano, health officer and acting director for Public Health, Seattle & King County. Public health officials said the viruses primarily spread through contact with wild rodents, especially exposure to their urine, droppings, and saliva. The Andes virus involved in the cruise ship outbreak is different because it has shown a limited ability to spread between people under close-contact conditions, something not documented with the strain commonly found in the western United States.