90-Second Read: Two Maryland residents potentially exposed to Hantavirus on plane with cruise ship passenger

According to MDH, no Hantavirus cases have been identified in Maryland since 2019, and the Andes virus infections have never been reported in the state. Example video title will go here for this video Example video title will go here for this video MARYLAND, USA, Health officials are monitoring two Maryland residents who may have been exposed to Hantavirus. According to the Maryland Department of Health, the two individuals recently took a flight that briefly included a passenger from the M/V Hondius cruise ship who was infected with the virus. Now, both people are being closely monitored by the health department. Seventeen Americans who were aboard the MV Hondius, a Dutch expedition cruise ship that departed Argentina on April 1, arrived at a federal air base in Nebraska early Monday.

At least one Virginia resident was on the cruise ship and is being monitored at home. Hantavirus is typically carried by rodents, and cases have been known to occur in the United States. Health officials say most diseases stemming from Hantavirus are not known to spread between people; however, the strain associated with the cruise ship, the Andes virus, is the only known Hantavirus capable of person-to-person transmission. One of the 17 Americans tested positive for the virus after the evacuation. Two others were transferred to Emory University in Atlanta for further evaluation.

Health authorities are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution. For privacy reasons, the exact locations of the residents were not released. Such transmission is rare and generally requires close, prolonged contact with an infected individual or their bodily fluids. The incubation period ranges from four to 42 days and asymptomatic persons are not considered infectious." "This is an evolving public health situation.

MDH is coordinating with all levels of government, as well as with leading experts and medical facilities that have Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers.