90-Second Read: Emory University Hospital monitors Georgia residents for Hantavirus

The CDC says two cruise ship passengers are at Emory University Hospital for monitoring following a virus outbreak that killed three people at sea. ATLANTA, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University Hospital are monitoring two Georgia residents following a Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that resulted in three deaths. The Source: Information for this story was gathered from FOX 5 reporter Kevyn Stewart, who attended a news conference with the CDC and Emory University Hospital, as well as official statements from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the World Health Organization. Two Georgia residents exposed to Hantavirus while vacationing on a cruise ship remain under evaluation in Atlanta.

Both individuals were passengers on the MV Hondius, a ship where the Andes variant of Hantavirus was identified. Health officials have not confirmed if the passengers will be cleared to leave the hospital or return home before a 42-day period is over. Federal and state health departments are using established protocols to manage the repatriation and monitoring of the 18 Americans who were on the ship. One of the passengers showed mild symptoms of the virus but has since tested negative.

Doctors at Emory said one individual is receiving treatment while the other is being monitored, though they emphasize there is no risk to the general public. The exact names and ages of the Georgia residents have not been released due to privacy concerns. This specific strain is known for causing Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a severe respiratory illness. While the Andes variant is serious, the CDC and World Health Organization assess the risk to the general public as low.

While one test was negative, authorities have not said how many additional tests or how much more observation time is needed before the couple is fully cleared. Nine cases have been confirmed and three people died after the virus spread, likely through human-to-human transmission of the Andes strain.