Deadly Virus Follows Santa Clara Traveler Home From Cruise Ship Outbreak: Health Officials

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Health officials are closely monitoring a Santa Clara County resident who returned to California after being potentially exposed to the deadly Andes hantavirus strain while traveling abroad.

The outbreak originated on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was carrying more than 140 passengers from around the world, officials said. The World Health Organization confirmed that the situation has already claimed the lives of three people, with five other passengers confirmed to be infected after departing the vessel.

Experts highlight that this specific outbreak involves the Andes strain, which differs from the hantavirus variants typically found in California. While local variants generally do not spread between people, the Andes strain can be transmitted through prolonged physical contact. Initial exposure for those on the ship is believed to have occurred via rodent feces in Argentina, officials said.

Despite the severity of the virus and its high mortality rate, the risk to the general public in the Bay Area remains minimal, as reported by the SF Chronicle.

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Human infections in California are historically rare, with state public health data indicating only about three cases annually. Similar rare instances have been investigated in the past, including fatalities in rural California and cases linked to notable individuals.

The California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are assisting in the monitoring of the exposed resident.

Santa Clara County health officials emphasized that there is no known risk to the public at this time.

Health officials recommend the following prevention tips to minimize hantavirus risks:

• Seal holes and use snap traps to keep rodents out of structures.
• Clean up signs of infestation using wet methods; never sweep or vacuum droppings to avoid making the virus airborne.
• Expose non-washable items like cushions to direct sunlight for several hours.