90-Second Read: North Carolina monitoring Hantavirus exposure linked to cruise ship

The exposure involves the Andes virus, a rare strain of Hantavirus, linked to passengers aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. Health officials say some of the exposed Americans were taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for monitoring, including one person from North Carolina. Experts say Hantavirus is most commonly linked to exposure to infected rodent droppings, urine or saliva. There are patients who have become infected with Andes virus, a type of Hantavirus. Williams is the state Public Health Veterinarian with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

If they stay there, they will continue to be monitored and if they come home, they will be monitored by the state local health department. North Carolina health officials stress this virus is different from COVID-19 because, so far, it does not spread easily between people. At this time, North Carolina officials say there is no threat of community spread. Doctors say the virus has an estimated mortality rate of about 40%. Example video title will go here for this video Example video title will go here for this video CHARLOTTE, N.C.

State leaders say the risk to the public remains very low, but federal and state agencies are continuing to track those who may have been exposed. The CDC is not using the word 'quarantine' but they're keeping them for risk assessment and monitoring and people are free to stay if they wish to. People will generally get symptoms related to their lungs, breathing, pneumonia, and they're quite ill," Dr. Doctors say the virus has an estimated mortality rate of about 40%, though infections remain rare. There were some people who left the ship early and they've returned to their home state.

Officials say some passengers left the ship and returned home before federal agencies were able to fully coordinate a response. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts that impact you from WCNC Charlotte, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications. When asked whether quarantines would be required, state leaders said the CDC is not formally using that term. This is a virus that's not easily transmitted so this is not something that's going to become a pandemic. Health officials also say the virus has a long incubation period, around four to eight weeks, meaning it could take weeks before experts learn more about how the virus behaves in those exposed.