The Californians were on board the MV Hondius which was infected with the hantavirus. Is there any danger?

Some California residents were among 147 passengers and crew aboard a luxury cruise ship infected with a suspected hantavirus that has left three people dead and several others seriously ill, officials confirmed Thursday.

California public health officials say they are currently monitoring the situation after being notified by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that some state residents were passengers on the MV Hondius. However, the exact situation of those people remains sad.

Hantavirus is a rare but fatal disease that affects the lungs and is usually contracted by humans by inhaling particles contaminated with the urine, feces or saliva of wild rodents.

However, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, confirmed on Thursday that the Andes virus – a type of hantavirus that can spread from person to person – was involved in the outbreak.

Here’s what we know.

As its name suggests, the Andes virus is usually found in South America. The Dutch-owned MV Hondius was on a 46-day voyage from Antarctica and docked in Argentina.

In the case of human-to-human transmission, a person first becomes infected with the dirty particles of a wild mouse and then passes the virus on to another person, said Dr. Gaby Frank, director of the Johns Hopkins Special Pathogens Center.

“In previous outbreaks of the Andes virus, transmission between people was associated with long-term close contact, especially between family members, close partners and people providing medical care,” said Ghebreyesus. “It seems that way in the current situation.”

California passengers on cruise

On April 1, 114 guests boarded the ship in Ushuaia, Argentina. Twenty-three days later, 30 passengers – including six people from the United States – disembarked at a stop in Saint Helena, a remote island 1,100 miles off the coast of Africa, according to cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions.

Among those who left is a woman who accompanied the body of her husband who died on April 11 while the ship was at sea in the Atlantic. At that time, the cause of the man’s death was not yet known, said the captain of the ship.

This woman also fell ill and died on April 27.

Public health agencies in California, Georgia and Arizona were notified by the CDC that some of their residents were among the passengers on the cruise. It is not clear whether these people came down on April 24.

The CDC is helping local health officials monitor California residents who were on the cruise, Robert Barsanti, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health, told The New York Times. Barsanti did not disclose how many Californians the department is monitoring.

“There is no information that California residents are sick or infected,” Barsanti told the New York Times. “At this time, the risk to public health in California is low.”

A public health spokeswoman did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment from The Times.

In a statement Wednesday, the CDC said the risk to the American public is “very low” at this time.

“We urge all Americans aboard the ship to follow the guidelines of health officials as we work to bring you home safely,” the agency said.

Others who left on April 24 are Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

How many people have been infected?

The number of laboratory-confirmed hantavirus cases has risen to five, according to the WHO. There are three additional alleged cases.

A timeline of reported cases of hantavirus on a cruise ship can be found here.

What we know about hantavirus

About 50 types of hantavirus have been identified. The virus found in the Americas often causes heart disease, a condition that affects the heart and lungs, according to Frank.

There have been 890 laboratory-confirmed cases of hantavirus disease reported in the US since surveillance began in 1993, according to most. latest data from the CDC.

Between 1993 and 2023, there have been a total of 79 cases of hantavirus in California. Of those infected with the virus, 24 have died.

CDC officials said 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms can die from the disease.

However, the data suggest that getting hantavirus is rare, said Dr. Afif El-Hasan, a member of the board of directors of the American Lung Assn.

There is no vaccine or specific antiviral drug for hantavirius.

Intensive care treatment may include ventilation and oxygen therapy, fluid replacement and the use of medications to lower blood pressure, according to the American Lung Assn.

Symptoms of hantavirus

Early symptoms of hantavirus are similar to the flu and include fatigue, fever and muscle aches, according to the CDC. Symptoms begin to develop within one to eight weeks after contact with an infected mouse.

Half of those who get the virus also suffer from headache, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Four to 10 days after the initial stage of illness, another cycle of symptoms may appear, including coughing, shortness of breath and possible chest tightness as the lungs fill with fluid.

Although getting hantavirus in the US continues to be a rare event, El-Hasan said, people should take these early symptoms seriously and seek medical help immediately.

A way to protect yourself

Hantavirus cases can occur year-round, but the peak seasons in the United States are spring and summer, which coincide with the breeding seasons for deer mice.

To reduce the risk of infection, keep mice out of your home and other enclosed spaces by sealing any openings and placing snap traps.

If you find evidence of rodents, wear protective gear and disinfect the area. When you’re done, put everything, including cleaning supplies, in a bag and throw it in your trash can.