90-Second Read: Hantavirus Tracker: More Than 40 People Being Monitored Across US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring 41 people in the United States for the Andes strain of Hantavirus following a deadly outbreak on a cruise ship last month, officials said. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that a total of 11 Hantavirus cases linked to the cruise had been reported worldwide, including three deaths. Other people being monitored include passengers who returned to the U.S. after being on board the ship before the outbreak was detected, and those who may have been exposed to the virus during travel.

The Hantavirus-stricken ship MV Hondius was on a trip from Argentina to the Antarctic and several isolated islands in the South Atlantic Ocean when the outbreak was identified in April. CDC officials said there were no Hantavirus cases in the U.S., and the risk to the public remained low. In the United States, most Hantavirus infections are associated with exposure to rodent droppings in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, such as cabins, barns or homes.

The California Department of Public Health said on Monday that it was monitoring a California resident who was on an international flight and had sat near one of the cruise ship passengers who was confirmed to have the Andes strain of Hantavirus. The department added, "They are being monitored for symptoms at home in coordination with Public Health, Seattle & King County." This is a developing story. The virus is rare but can cause a severe and potentially fatal illness known as Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.