Three King County residents are being monitored by public health officials after possible exposure to the Andes strain of hantavirus tied to an outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship that has killed at least three people.
None of the residents are currently showing symptoms, and there are no confirmed hantavirus cases in King County, Public Health Seattle & King County announced Tuesday, May 12.
Two of the residents were seated near an ill cruise ship passenger on an airplane, according to health officials. That passenger was removed from the flight before takeoff and later tested positive for the Andes type of hantavirus.
Both King County residents have since returned home and are monitoring for symptoms in coordination with public health officials.
A third King County resident was aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship and is now being monitored alongside other American passengers at the national quarantine center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, according to Public Health.
“I know the current news about hantavirus may be scary,” said Dr. Sandra Valenciano, health officer and acting director for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “The risk of this virus spreading to residents of King County is low at this time.”
Valenciano said the situation differs significantly from the early days of COVID-19 because health officials already understand how hantavirus spreads and how outbreaks are typically contained.
Public Health said the county has contact tracing and monitoring protocols in place that have successfully helped contain previous hantavirus outbreaks.
According to the World Health Organization, nine confirmed hantavirus cases have been linked to the outbreak associated with the MV Hondius cruise ship as of May 12. Three people connected to the outbreak have died.
What Is Andes Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are rare viruses typically spread through contact with infected rodents, especially exposure to their urine, saliva, or droppings.
In Washington state, the most common strain is the Sin Nombre virus, which is usually linked to deer mice and exposure in cabins, sheds, garages, or other rural settings.
The Andes strain involved in the cruise ship outbreak is different because it is the only known hantavirus capable of spreading from person to person, though health officials say that type of transmission is uncommon and generally requires prolonged close contact with someone who is actively ill.
“People are analogizing to COVID, and this virus does not historically act like COVID or another coronavirus,” said Alex Greninger, head of the Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics at the University of Washington Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology.
Greninger said hantavirus transmission behaves very differently from airborne respiratory viruses like COVID-19.
“They can be picked up by people, usually directly from rodents, either by inhaling particles from droppings or exposure to rodent urine,” Greninger said.
Health officials emphasized that the virus has not shown the kind of rapid community spread associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
Symptoms Can Escalate Quickly
According to health officials, hantavirus symptoms can appear anywhere from one to eight weeks after exposure.
Early symptoms often resemble the flu and can include:
- fever
- muscle aches
- fatigue
Within several days, more severe symptoms can develop, including coughing, shortness of breath, and rapid breathing as fluid builds in the lungs.
Public Health said the overall risk to the public remains low.
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