A Santa Clara County resident was one of the Californians aboard the cruise ship affected by the Andes hantavirus outbreak, according to public health authorities.
The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department announced they are monitoring and evaluating a resident who was exposed to the Andes hantavirus while a passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship. The resident was one of the Californians who returned home, according to officials.
The health department assured there is no known risk to the public at this time.
According to authorities, hantaviruses are “zoonotic viruses” that infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans – the Andes virus is part of this family.
Officials said people usually get infected through contact with “infected rodents or their urine, droppings, or saliva”. Andes hantavirus can cause limited person-to-person transmission only with close and prolonged contact, which can be usually among household members or intimate partners.