The United States is monitoring its citizens who were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship following a hantavirus outbreak that has killed three people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Wednesday.
The outbreak on the MV Hondius has resulted in the deaths of a Dutch couple and a German national, with eight individuals, including a Swiss citizen, suspected of contracting the virus, according to the World Health Organization. Hantavirus typically spreads through contact with infected rodents, and human-to-human transmission is considered uncommon.
The State Department is leading a coordinated response, including direct contact with passengers and engagement with health authorities. The CDC stated that the risk to the American public remains extremely low.
Residents in at least three US states are under observation for potential hantavirus infections after disembarking from the MV Hondius, though none have exhibited symptoms. Georgia is monitoring two residents, California is tracking an undisclosed number, and Arizona is monitoring one resident, all of whom are asymptomatic and following CDC recommendations.
