Sacramento County resident may have been exposed to hantavirus on a plane, health official says

A resident from Sacramento County may have been exposed to Andes hantavirus on a plane in South Africa after sitting near a woman who later died, California’s top public health official said on Monday.The person from Sacramento County was sitting within two seats in front or behind of the Dutch woman who was removed from a flight before takeoff from Johannesburg, South Africa, California Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan said.The resident is one of two California residents who is being monitored at home by local health officials after being exposed to the virus, Pan said.The other person was a passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship who is from Santa Clara. The person is at home, feeling well and reporting no symptoms of hantavirus at this time, Santa Clara’s public health department said on Monday.In all, four California residents have been exposed to the virus, Pan said. That includes two other California residents were were among the 16 American cruise ship travelers who were taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center to be monitored after their ship docked in the Canary Islands.None of the California residents have tested positive for hantavirus or have any symptoms, Pan said, adding that all are healthy.She stressed that the risk to the general public is extremely low.Three people have died so far as part of the outbreak and at least six others with confirmed or suspected hantavirus cases are being quarantined, The Associated Press reported on Monday.The newest cases included a French woman who tested positive and was being treated at a Paris hospital, and an American without symptoms who tested positive and was taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s biocontainment unit.What is hantavirus and the Andes virus?People can become infected by hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings and saliva, according to the CDC.The Andes virus is the only type of hantavirus that is known to spread person-to-person. Argentina’s health ministry said there were 28 deaths from hantavirus last year, up from an average mortality rate of 15 in the five years before that. Nearly a third of cases last year were fatal, it said.Symptoms for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome can show up one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent.According to the CDC, early symptoms include fatigue, fever and muscle aches. About half of patients also experience headaches, dizziness, chills and abdominal problems.The CDC says that 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease.CDPH stresses that transmission of Andes hantavirus has come after “close, prolonged contact with an ill infected person.”(Video below: California health official says 4 Californians exposed to hantavirus.)Past hantavirus cases in CaliforniaCDPH said there have been 99 California residents who have been diagnosed with hantavirus, from 1980 to 2025. None were from Andes hantavirus, which is found in the southern Andes region of Argentina and Chile.Instead, the California cases were all from Sin Nombre hantavirus, which is not associated with person-to-person contact as Andes hantavirus can be.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

A resident from Sacramento County may have been exposed to Andes hantavirus on a plane in South Africa after sitting near a woman who later died, California’s top public health official said on Monday.

The person from Sacramento County was sitting within two seats in front or behind of the Dutch woman who was removed from a flight before takeoff from Johannesburg, South Africa, California Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan said.

The resident is one of two California residents who is being monitored at home by local health officials after being exposed to the virus, Pan said.

The other person was a passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship who is from Santa Clara.

The person is at home, feeling well and reporting no symptoms of hantavirus at this time, Santa Clara’s public health department said on Monday.

In all, four California residents have been exposed to the virus, Pan said. That includes two other California residents were were among the 16 American cruise ship travelers who were taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center to be monitored after their ship docked in the Canary Islands.

None of the California residents have tested positive for hantavirus or have any symptoms, Pan said, adding that all are healthy.

She stressed that the risk to the general public is extremely low.

Three people have died so far as part of the outbreak and at least six others with confirmed or suspected hantavirus cases are being quarantined, The Associated Press reported on Monday.

The newest cases included a French woman who tested positive and was being treated at a Paris hospital, and an American without symptoms who tested positive and was taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s biocontainment unit.

What is hantavirus and the Andes virus?

People can become infected by hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings and saliva, according to the CDC.

The Andes virus is the only type of hantavirus that is known to spread person-to-person. Argentina’s health ministry said there were 28 deaths from hantavirus last year, up from an average mortality rate of 15 in the five years before that. Nearly a third of cases last year were fatal, it said.

Symptoms for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome can show up one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent.

According to the CDC, early symptoms include fatigue, fever and muscle aches. About half of patients also experience headaches, dizziness, chills and abdominal problems.

The CDC says that 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease.

CDPH stresses that transmission of Andes hantavirus has come after “close, prolonged contact with an ill infected person.”

(Video below: California health official says 4 Californians exposed to hantavirus.)

Past hantavirus cases in California

CDPH said there have been 99 California residents who have been diagnosed with hantavirus, from 1980 to 2025. None were from Andes hantavirus, which is found in the southern Andes region of Argentina and Chile.

Instead, the California cases were all from Sin Nombre hantavirus, which is not associated with person-to-person contact as Andes hantavirus can be.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel