Hantavirus Exposure: Minnesotan Being Monitored

ST. PAUL, MN — State health officials are monitoring one person who may have been exposed overseas to hantavirus, the Minnesota Department of Health said Tuesday.

MDH said the person may have briefly been exposed overseas to someone who was aboard the MV Hondius cruise and tested positive for hantavirus, specifically Andes virus.

The person being monitored in Minnesota does not have symptoms, health officials said.

"We want to emphasize that the risk to the public remains very low," MDH said in a statement.

MDH said it is in contact with the person, who has been "very cooperative." Health officials are monitoring the person daily for symptoms.

The department said it will not release additional information about the person in order to protect their privacy.

The Minnesota monitoring comes amid a deadly outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. The CDC said Tuesday that it is responding to the outbreak among passengers and crew of a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

Federal health officials said the risk of a pandemic and the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains extremely low.

As of May 8, the World Health Organization had reported eight cases, including three deaths, according to a CDC health advisory. Investigations are ongoing to assess the exposure risk for American passengers who were on the cruise ship or who may have been exposed to an infected passenger on an aircraft.

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can spread to people and make them very sick, according to MDH.

Andes virus is the only type of hantavirus known to spread from person to person, health officials said. However, that kind of spread is usually limited to people who have close contact with an infected person who has symptoms.

"Hantavirus has been in the news a lot lately, and we understand that news of a person being monitored in Minnesota may raise concerns," MDH said.

The department said it is working with local public health partners, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and health care officials.

"We recognize things may change over time and will stay in touch with our partners to share additional information as needed," MDH said.

About The MV Hondius Outbreak

• The outbreak was linked to the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions.
• The ship had been sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, toward Cape Verde when passengers became sick.
• Three passengers died in connection with the outbreak
• The outbreak involved Andes virus, a type of hantavirus that can sometimes spread from person to person.
• Minnesota health officials said the person being monitored in the state has no symptoms and the public risk remains very low.