One of five states who agreed to take individuals who traveled on the MV Hondius cruise ship
California has officially agreed to monitor patients who travel on the MV Hondius cruise ship, where an outbreak of the Hantavirus disease turned into a deadly outcome and is now being seen as a Level 3 response; low-level emergency activation.
Arizona, Georgia, Texas and Virginia are the other four states that are monitoring people who could potentially be infected with the virus. After being on the cruise ship, the individuals have not yet shown any signs of infection.
Contact tracing is underway to reassess if anyone was potentially exposed to sick patients earlier in the week. Health officials say that there were about 30 passengers who disembarked about two weeks ago at different locations.
So far, three passengers have been pronounced dead.
“There is no information that the California residents are ill or infected… At this time, the risk to public health in California is low,” said California Department of Public Health’s Robert Barsanti.
In central California, the Fresno Department of Public Health stated that they are coordinating with state leaders as the case continues to evolve.
Off the coast of Africa in Cape Verde, officials medically evacuated three people with two in “serious condition.” The ship is now en route to the Canary Islands in Spain.
Some passengers disembarked the cruise ship without knowledge of the outbreak. Authorities are advising these individuals to stay in their homes and self-isolate.
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As of the most recent, there are reportedly over 100 passengers still aboard the cruise ship. The World Health Organization is keeping a close eye on their health.
Officials say that the “overall public health risk remains low.” However, there is a high chance of some person-to-person spread.
The total number of cases has increased to five as global health authorities work on being able to contain the cluster of the deadly disease.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated: “The risk to the American public is extremely low.” They encourage any American on board to follow the guidelines of the health officials on board.
How Did the Virus Outbreak?
The virus is now suspected to have been picked up by a passenger from Argentina before getting on the ship. Health officials say that the individual went to a landfill during a bird-watching tour in mid-March. They believe he contracted it from rodents.
The captain of the ship made an announcement of his death weeks ago. He said the man wasn’t infectious before knowing that it was the hantavirus.
However, the man who contracted the virus spread it to his wife, who has since passed away from the disease.
What is the Hantavirus?
This virus is a respiratory infection that does not yet have a treatment and can kill up to 40% of individuals who have been infected.
So far, testing has revealed a rare Andes strain of the virus, making this a disease that spreads from person-to-person.
Officials have noted that the Hantavirus infection in California has involved a different strain known as the Sin Nombre virus.
“That is the species that has been identified on the cruise ship. So that’s why they’re starting to worry more and more about the potential for person to person spread,” said Dr. Emily Abdoler, infectious diseases physician.
From the years of 1980 to 2024, California has reported a total of 79 Hantavirus cases.
President Donald Trump said in a statement that he has been updated on the situation his administration will be issuing a “full report” as the outbreak progresses.
The ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, stated that the trip is still expected to last another three to four days.