\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLuxury cruise line Oceanwide Expeditions is continuing to monitor what it calls an \u201congoing medical situation\u201d on board its ship as it heads to the Canary Islands.Health officials said a hantavirus outbreak was linked to passengers.\u201cWe don\u2019t think it started on a cruise ship,\u201d Brevard-based Health First Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tim Laird said. \u201cWe think it started in Argentina, where the cruise ship stopped. We\u2019ve always known that cruise ships \u2014 with close contact among people \u2014 allow viruses to spread.\u201dThe World Health Organization said the risk to the general public is low.\u201cThere have only been three cases of this disease in Florida since the U.S. started tracking it in 1993,\u201d Laird said. \u201cSo, this really isn\u2019t something that occurs in Florida very often at all.\u201dLaird said these infections typically happen after exposure to rodent droppings, urine or saliva.\u201cThere was a case years ago in Yosemite where people were camping in insulated tents where there was rodent activity, and it was kind of enclosed,\u201d Laird said. \u201cWe think the aerosol from rodent feces and urine is how people get exposed.\u201d>> Video below: Orlando Health doctor discusses hantavirusThe symptoms are similar to the flu: high fever, severe muscle aches, headaches and stomach pain.\u201cI think it\u2019s something we should reassure the public about,\u201d Laird said. \u201cUnless you\u2019ve been exposed to somebody with a confirmed case or you\u2019ve been in very close contact with rodents in the Southwestern United States, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a big risk around here.\u201dSo far, there have been no cases linked to Florida residents. We reached out to the Canaveral Port Authority about the virus.”We are aware of reports regarding cases of Hantavirus associated with a recent voyage on a non-member cruise line. Our thoughts are with those affected. CLIA-member cruise lines are required to adhere to comprehensive health, safety, and medical policies designed to detect, prevent, and mitigate illness. CLIA-member cruise lines have no known cases of hantavirus.” -Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) spokesperson.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tBREVARD COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n