Two Georgia residents who were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship at the center of an international hantavirus outbreak have safely returned home and are currently showing no signs of illness, according to Georgia health officials.
The cruise ship became the focus of global concern after multiple passengers reportedly became infected with the rare Andes strain of hantavirus during a voyage that traveled through parts of South America and the Atlantic Ocean. Health officials say at least three people connected to the outbreak have died, while several others were hospitalized or placed under medical observation.
Georgia’s Department of Public Health confirmed that the two Georgians who were onboard the ship are now back in the state and are being monitored in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Officials say neither individual is currently experiencing symptoms associated with the virus.
Hantavirus is typically spread through exposure to infected rodents or their droppings, though the Andes strain connected to this outbreak is one of the few versions known to occasionally spread through close human-to-human contact. Despite the concerns surrounding the cruise ship outbreak, health experts continue to stress that the overall risk to the public remains low.
The MV Hondius remains under international monitoring as global health agencies continue contact tracing efforts involving passengers from several countries who traveled aboard the ship before the outbreak was officially confirmed.
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