90-Second Read: We Now Know How Many People the CDC Is Monitoring for Hantavirus

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring 41 people in the US for the Andes Hantavirus after a cruise ship was hit with a rare outbreak, but the risk to the public remains low, according to health officials. The agency is also monitoring passengers who returned home before the outbreak was identified and others who were exposed during travel, specifically on flights where a symptomatic case was present. As of Thursday, the World Health Organization has confirmed 11 cases of the Andes virus among passengers of the MV Hondius cruise ship, including three deaths. There are no confirmed cases in the US, but 41 people who were potentially exposed to the Andes virus are in quarantine or being monitored for symptoms.

Typically, Hantavirus is passed to humans when they come into contact with rodent droppings or urine. Fitter said on Thursday that the CDC is not using that authority to manage all 41 of the individuals who were potentially exposed to the Hantavirus. We are working closely with passengers and public health partners to ensure monitoring and rapid access to care if symptoms develop.

A respiratory virus, the disease can cause difficulty breathing and carries a fatality rate of around 35 percent. A Department of Health and Human Services official confirmed to WIRED that all Americans who were on board the Hondius at any point during its journey are now back in the US. The CDC has legal authority to issue federal quarantine and isolation orders to prevent the spread of certain communicable diseases into or within the US. Symptoms begin as flu-like, with fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, then rapidly progress to severe respiratory distress.