90-Second Read: Kansas health officials monitoring 3 people with 'high-risk exposure' to Hantavirus

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is monitoring three people who were exposed to a person who later tested positive for Hantavirus. Their exposure is considered a "high-risk exposure," which may include "prolonged close contact or shared living space with a symptomatic individual, or close proximity during travel." The three people were not on board the cruise ship, health officials say. While their status is being monitored, health officials say there are "no suspected or confirmed cases of Hantavirus in Kansas." The health department will continue to monitor the risk. KDHE continues to assess the risk to the public from the Andes Hantavirus as extremely low. Health officials say the three people were exposed internationally after contact with an individual who was on the MV Hondius cruise ship.

That person later tested positive for the Andes Hantavirus. Officials say the risk to the public is "extremely low." Hantaviruses are usually spread through contact with wild rodent droppings, urine or saliva, the KDHE said. The specific virus that caused the cruise ship outbreak is called the Andes virus, which can spread from person to person in situations involving close and prolonged contact with a symptomatic person.

Based on our current knowledge of Andes virus, individuals are not considered infectious to others unless they become symptomatic. Symptoms of the Andes virus usually begin between four and 42 days after exposure. Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, nausea and more. People can develop a severe illness that affects the lungs and causes chest tightness and difficulty breathing.