Three New York residents who were passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship have arrived at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and are expected to undergo a 42-day monitoring period, state health officials said Monday.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said the passengers include one resident from New York City and two from Orange County and Westchester County.
Residents under 42-day monitoring period
McDonald said the state Department of Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health departments to track the situation.
At this time, it is unclear how long the individuals will remain in Nebraska or whether they will return to New York.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and working with the CDC and local health departments,” McDonald said. “At this point, it is important to emphasize that there is no immediate risk to the public.”
Hochul: State preparing, monitoring CDC response
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state is coordinating with federal health officials and preparing for potential scenarios, while stressing that the risk to the public remains low.
“We don’t know whether those individuals will be returning to New York,” Hochul said during a briefing Monday. “I’ve activated researchers in New York to start preparing for worst case scenarios and hope they don’t come.”
Hochul also noted concerns about federal public health capacity.
“I want to make sure that the CDC is capable of handling something, should it grow larger than they’re predicting,” she said.
What is known about the outbreak
The MV Hondius, operated by Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions, departed Ushuaia, Argentina, in early April and traveled through several remote locations including Antarctica, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, Ascension Island and Saint Helena, according to the World Health Organization.
Health officials believe the outbreak may have begun after a Dutch couple became infected during wildlife excursions off the ship.
As of Monday, nine confirmed hantavirus cases and two suspected cases have been linked to the cruise, including one individual on Tristan da Cunha. Three deaths have been reported since April 11.
Eighteen U.S. passengers, including the three New Yorkers, have returned to the United States for quarantine and monitoring. One U.S. passenger has tested positive.
What is hantavirus?
According to the New York State Department of Health, hantavirus infections are caused by viruses typically carried by rodents.
In North America, infection can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal respiratory illness. There is no specific cure or vaccine, but early treatment can improve outcomes.
The CDC says person-to-person spread is rare, though it has been documented with certain strains, including the Andes virus.
Risk to the public remains low
The World Health Organization continues to say the risk to the general public is low.
No confirmed cases have been reported in New York or New Jersey. Health officials in New Jersey said two residents may have been exposed during international air travel but remain asymptomatic and under precautionary monitoring.
The last confirmed hantavirus case in New York occurred in 2017 in Franklin County, state health officials said.
Contributing: USA Today Network-New York Reporters Emily Barnes and Madison Scott
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY residents monitored after cruise ship hantavirus outbreak, officials say
Reporting by Alexandra Rivera, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
