Two passengers on the cruise ship that had an outbreak of hantavirus returned to the U.S. before the disease was identified, but they’re not showing any symptoms.
They were aboard the MV Hondius, the cruise ship currently traveling in the Atlantic Ocean, that was hit with hantavirus, a rare but potentially deadly respiratory disease spread primarily by rodents.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has notified the Texas health department that the two passengers, both from the Lone Star State, were on the ship and were contacted by public health workers, according to multiple reports. Both individuals, who have not been identified and whose locations are unknown, had already returned to the U.S. before the outbreak was identified, officials said.
The two said they didn’t have any contact with anyone who was sick while aboard, have agreed to monitor their health, including daily temperature checks, and will contact health officials upon any signs of illness. Symptoms can become noticeable as late as eight weeks after initial exposure.
Three other passengers have died in the outbreak, and several others are showing symptoms of the virus. This type of hantavirus is known for being the only strain capable of direct human-to-human transmission.
