KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) — The Andes hantavirus continues to be tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kansas, and other states. Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services said it currently has no cases and is not monitoring any exposures.
What we know in Kansas
On Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) shared that it is monitoring three people who may have been exposed to hantavirus. The KDHE said all three individuals with a high-risk exposure have been transported to the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, for observation.
“Should any of the individuals test positive for the Andes hantavirus, the public will be properly notified, and additional information will be provided,” KDHE said Wednesday afternoon.
KCTV5 reached out to some of the biggest counties throughout the state to see if their health departments are currently monitoring the hantavirus.
Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health shared that the three came into contact with someone who had been on the MV Hondius cruise ship on an international flight, something KDHE has not shared. Lawrence-Douglas County did not say if it is monitoring the disease.
Wyandotte and Johnson counties referred back to the KDHE’s press release.
Shawnee County, where Topeka is located, said they are not currently monitoring for the virus.
Missouri not monitoring
As of Wednesday, the state of Missouri has no cases or exposures of the hantavirus.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) said they are aware of Argentina seeing an increase in cases over the past year, but added it is still a rare disease.
Missouri DHSS said they are enhancing their surveillance and response to the hantavirus after the cruise ship outbreak and during the upcoming World Cup. This can include case-based reporting, reviewing hospitalizations, and wastewater.
They are also working with local, state, and federal public health agencies to ensure they can detect and respond to any possible threats.
Wednesday update from CDC
The CDC provided an update on Wednesday regarding those on the cruise ship who are back in the states and how they are working to monitor exposures.
The CDC is not sharing a number of how many people are being monitored or have symptoms. They said this is out of respect for their privacy.
Dr. David Fritter, who is the incident manager for the CDC’s hantavirus response, says this is a known virus, meaning they have seen this before and know how to respond to it, unlike COVID-19.
Dr. Fritter said they are working to ensure every American stays safe and healthy during this time and shared that monitoring lasts about six weeks.
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