90-Second Read: Health officials track fourth King County resident tied to MV Hondius Andes Hantavirus

The King County resident is considered at low risk for infection because they were not seated near the ill passenger, health officials said. Earlier this week, Public Health announced that three King County residents were under monitoring for the Andes type of Hantavirus. Health officials said there are currently no cases of Andes-type Hantavirus in King County, and no residents are showing symptoms.

The Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified local health officials on May 14 about the additional resident, according to Public Health, Seattle & King County. The infected passenger began traveling before the outbreak was reported to the World Health Organization. Both have returned home to King County, remain symptom-free, and are monitoring for symptoms in coordination with public health officials.

A third King County resident who was a passenger aboard the MV Hondius is being monitored alongside other American passengers at the national quarantine center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. According to health officials, the Andes virus is the only known Hantavirus capable of spreading from person to person, typically through close physical contact, prolonged exposure in enclosed spaces, or contact with body fluids from an infected person. RELATED | What exactly is Hantavirus and how concerned should Washington residents be?