90-Second Read: Texas cruise passengers complete Hantavirus monitoring with no infections, state says

Two Texas cruise passengers have cleared a 42-day quarantine without showing symptoms after possible exposure to a rare Hantavirus strain in Antarctica. AUSTIN, Texas, Two Texas residents who were monitored for possible Hantavirus exposure after traveling aboard an Antarctic cruise ship have completed their observation period without developing symptoms, Texas health officials said Saturday. The Texas Department of State Health Services said the passengers reached 42 days since their last possible exposure to the Andes strain of Hantavirus, the longest known period between exposure and the onset of symptoms. Two Texas residents have safely completed a 42-day home isolation period without developing symptoms after potentially being exposed to a rare, human-transmissible strain of Hantavirus aboard an Antar...

State health officials recommended monitoring for all passengers who had been aboard the vessel. In Texas, the two passengers were isolated at home and received twice-daily in-person evaluations by public health workers throughout the monitoring period. Texas health officials did not report any infections among the monitored passengers. The individuals were isolated at home and monitored twice daily after traveling on the MV Hondius, where several others later fell ill.

The agency said neither person showed signs of infection and no longer faces any public health recommendations related to the exposure. The passengers had traveled aboard the MV Hondius, where several people later became ill with the Andes strain of Hantavirus. The Texas residents had already left the ship and returned home before the outbreak was identified. The Andes strain, found primarily in South America, is notable because it can spread between people, unlike most other Hantaviruses.