90-Second Read: MDH monitoring person potentially exposed to Hantavirus in Minnesota

Newspaper dedicated to reporting the news in Central Minnesota The Minnesota Department of Health issued this statemenlast Tuesday about monitoring a person who was potentially exposed to Hantavirus overseas. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is monitoring one person in Minnesota who may have briefly been exposed overseas to someone who was on board the MV Hondius cruise and tested positive for Hantavirus (Andes virus). Hantavirus has been in the news a lot lately, and MDH understands that news of a person being monitored in Minnesota may raise concerns.

The exposed person have been very cooperative, and MDH is monitoring them daily for symptoms. MDH will not release any additional information on the person to protect their privacy. Hantaviruses are a known group of viruses carried by rodents which can spread to people and make them very sick.

The Andes virus is the only type of Hantavirus known to spread from person-to-person; however, person-to-person spread is usually limited to people who have close contact with an infected person with symptoms. More information on Hantavirus can be found on the MDH Hantavirus website and CDC's About Hantavirus website. They want to emphasize that the risk to the public remains very low.