90-Second Read: NJ residents monitored after possible Hantavirus exposure. What to know in NY

Two New Jersey residents may have been exposed to a person infected with Hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, where a rare outbreak has killed three people, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. As of Friday, there also were no confirmed cases of Hantavirus in New York and no reports of New Yorkers being monitored for exposure. As of Friday afternoon, May 8, there were no confirmed Hantavirus cases in New York and no reports of New Yorkers being monitored for exposure. The New Jersey residents were not passengers on the cruise ship, and the potential exposure occurred during air travel abroad," the health department said in a news release Friday, May 8. As of Thursday, five people had confirmed Hantavirus cases and three others were.

Health Security Agency announced a new suspected Hantavirus case on Tristan da Cunha, a remote South Atlantic island where the MV Hondius stopped in April. Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with infected rodents, but health officials confirmed the strain linked to this outbreak is the Andes virus, the only known Hantavirus strain capable of spreading person to person. The most recent confirmed Hantavirus case in New York occurred in Franklin County in 2017, according to the state health department. Neither resident currently has symptoms, and officials said they are being monitored as a precaution. Officials said the overall risk to New Jersey residents remains low because there have been no confirmed cases in New Jersey or elsewhere in the United States.

The World Health Organization has repeatedly said the risk to the general public remains low. According to the New York State Department of Health, Hantavirus disease is caused by several strains of viruses commonly carried by rodents around the world. In North America, Hantaviruses can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal lung disease. The virus can also cause a milder illness known as non-pulmonary Hantavirus infection. Tristan da Cunha is often described as the world's most remote inhabited island, located roughly halfway between South America and Africa.

Officials believe the outbreak may have started after a Dutch couple became infected while participating in wildlife excursions off the ship. The CDC says person-to-person transmission is rare but possible with certain strains, including the Andes virus. Officials did not release additional details about the suspected case. There is no specific cure or vaccine, but early medical treatment can improve survival rates. The department also provides resources for residents, including information on rodent control and disease prevention.