90-Second Read: Arkansas health officials monitoring rare Hantavirus outbreak linked to cruise ship

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal health agencies are tracking possible exposures nationwide after an outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship that left three passengers dead. The Arkansas Department of Health said it is staying in close contact with federal partners but has not identified any Arkansas residents linked to the outbreak. Officials said the strain involved in the outbreak is the Andes variant of Hantavirus, which is primarily found in South America and is unusual because it can spread from person to person. In the United States, Hantavirus cases are rare and typically associated with exposure to rodents or their droppings.

Health officials said exposure most often occurs in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces such as cabins, storage buildings, or camping areas where rodents may be present. The Arkansas Department of Health said it is distributing updated CDC guidance to hospitals across the state and maintaining ongoing communication with medical partners as the situation develops. Symptoms of Hantavirus can begin with fever, fatigue, and body aches, but may quickly progress to severe respiratory distress, officials said.

Several other passengers are being monitored, including some in Nebraska who are quarantined as a precaution. They urged caution when cleaning such environments to avoid disturbing contaminated dust. Labuda advised anyone who has been in areas with significant rodent activity and later develops flu-like symptoms to seek medical care immediately. So it sort of can start out with fever, body aches, tiredness, and then very quickly, people get very short of breath and can't breathe well on their own.