Hantavirus-Contaminated Cruise
American Passengers Return
1 Exams Optimistic, 1 Reveals Signs
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Seventeen American passengers from the cruise ship on the middle of the lethal hantavirus outbreak are formally again within the U.S. … and certainly one of them has already examined constructive, and one other is exhibiting signs.
Well being officers say the passengers have been pulled from the contaminated ship MV Hondius and flown to the U.S., the place they’re now being checked out in extremely specialised quarantine items.
Two of the evacuees have been transported in full-on biocontainment pods to cease any unfold of the virus … making this the second the outbreak formally hit U.S. soil. The Division of Well being & Human Companies says one individual examined constructive however was exhibiting no signs, whereas the opposite was experiencing delicate signs. Additional medical evaluation was ongoing, the division stated.
The remainder of the ship’s passengers have been heading again to their house international locations as authorities scramble to comprise the scenario.
As we reported, the MV Hondius sparked worldwide panic after three passengers died from hantavirus final month, with eight extra infections later confirmed onboard.
The outbreak has rattled the world as one other potential COVID-19 scenario — although the World Well being Group says it nonetheless does not qualify as a pandemic.
Hantavirus is attributable to contact with contaminated mouse or rat feces and urine. The WHO confirmed final week the outbreak onboard the Hondius includes the Andes virus pressure — the one identified hantavirus able to spreading from individual to individual by shut and extended contact involving bodily fluids.
