The number of people being monitored for hantavirus in the US has grown to 41, with 18 repatriated passengers from the affected M/V Hondius cruise ship being held in quarantine facilities in Nebraska and Georgia.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that seven others who had already returned home from the cruise are also being monitored, in addition to “flight contacts” who were exposed during travel. None of the passengers currently in quarantine are symptomatic, the CDC said.
Hantavirus Outbreak
There have been at least 11 confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus linked to the outbreak on the ship, including three fatalities: a Dutch couple and a German woman. Patients involved in the hantavirus outbreak have tested positive for the Andes strain, which can be transmitted from person to person.
Among those in quarantine is Jake Rosmarin, a New York native and travel influencer who spoke about what was supposed to be a five-week trip and is now stretching into 12 weeks away from home. Rosmarin faces a 42-day isolation period and will miss his cousin’s wedding in Italy.
Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, an Oregon oncologist who was aboard the cruise ship on vacation when the outbreak began, tested negative and was moved from the biocontainment unit to the quarantine unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Angela Hewlett, who oversaw his care, praised Kornfeld’s actions as “heroic” for providing care and assessment to ill passengers on the cruise ship.
What’s Next
The CDC says the risk to the general public remains low, and there are no confirmed US cases at this time. Those in quarantine are trying to stay focused on what lies ahead, with Rosmarin looking forward to his own wedding as a source of motivation.
The hantavirus outbreak serves as a reminder of the importance of global health monitoring and the need for swift action in response to emerging health threats. As the situation continues to unfold, the US will remain vigilant in its efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.
