CDC coordinates with WHO amid hantavirus cruise-ship outbreak

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is coordinating with the World Health Organization and other authorities over the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship.

Reuters reported that the CDC said the United States is closely monitoring U.S. travelers who were on board and that the State Department is leading a coordinated response with domestic and international health authorities. The report said people in at least three U.S. states were being monitored for potential infection and had not shown signs of illness at the time.

WHO said in a May 7 update that eight cases have now been reported in the outbreak, including three deaths. The agency said five cases have been confirmed as hantavirus and that the virus involved is the Andes strain, which can rarely spread between people.

WHO first issued an outbreak notice on May 4, when it said seven cases and three deaths had been identified. It said the public-health risk remained low, but more cases could still emerge because of the incubation period.

The CDC's own hantavirus guidance says the virus is mainly spread by rodents, while Andes virus can rarely spread from person to person. That is one reason health officials are focusing on travelers who may have been exposed before the outbreak was fully recognized.

The main unanswered questions are how many U.S. passengers were exposed, whether any monitored travelers later test positive, and how many additional cases may be identified as tracing continues.