By Armando Hernandez
United States health authorities are keeping 41 people under monitoring for possible exposure to the Andean hantavirus, after the outbreak detected on the MV Hondius expedition cruise ship, where at least three people died and several passengers were infected.
The Centers for Disease Prevention and Prevention (CDC) reported that, so far, no cases have been confirmed in the United States. although the organization activated a special monitoring and preventive quarantine operation for people considered high risk.
Given the outbreak, the CDC activated a “Level 3” emergency, the lowest level within its response scale, and deployed epidemiological teams in both Spain and the United States.
“The risk to the general public remains low,” said David Healthier, incident management officer for the CDC’s hantavirus response.
According to health authorities, the 41 people under surveillance belong to three different groups. The first is made up of 18 American passengers evacuated from the Canary Islands and transferred to quarantine centers in Nebraska and Atlanta.
The second group includes passengers who left the cruise before the outbreak was officially detected and returned to different states in the country. The third corresponds to people who shared flights with symptomatic travelers from the ship.
One of the most delicate cases involves a passenger who traveled from the island of Saint Helena to Johannesburg while she was already showing symptoms of the disease. Health authorities are tracking those who were close to her during the air journey.
“We are working closely with passengers and our public health partners to ensure monitoring and rapid access to medical care if they develop symptoms,” Healthier explained.
Initial symptoms include fever, muscle aches, tiredness and traditional malaise, but in severe cases it can quickly progress to severe respiratory failure. The estimated mortality rate is around 35%.
The World Health Organization confirmed at least 11 cases linked to the ship, including three deaths: a Dutch couple and a German citizen.
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