Two Texas Residents Confirmed to Have Been on Cruise with Hantavirus Outbreak
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
HOUSTON, Texas – Health authorities in Texas confirmed that two residents of the state were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, where a hantavirus outbreak was later detected while sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. In a statement sent to Telemundo Houston, the Texas Department of Health reported that the passengers had already left the vessel and returned to the United States before the outbreak was identified. Public health officials were able to contact both individuals, who reported not experiencing any symptoms and having had no contact with any sick passengers during the trip. As a precautionary measure, they agreed to monitor their health daily, including taking their temperature, and to report any signs of illness immediately. HOW IS HANTAVIRUS TRANSMITTED? Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of wild rodents. However, the variant detected in this outbreak, known as the Andes virus, can be transmitted between people under very specific circumstances. PUBLIC HEALTH CLARIFICATION Requires close and prolonged contact with an infected person. It is not transmitted through casual contact, such as shaking hands, nor by being briefly in the same space. There is no evidence of transmission from asymptomatic individuals. The DSHS reiterated that it will not disclose any additional personal information about the passengers to protect their privacy.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
