US Ends Hantavirus Response, No Domestic Cases Reported

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Wednesday (24/6) the conclusion of public health containment efforts regarding Hantavirus exposure incidents related to the cruise ship M/V Hondius, with no confirmed cases reported in the US.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the final 42-day monitoring period ended on 21 June, and no individuals in the country remain under public health surveillance related to the event.

HHS stated that federal, state, and local health authorities collaborated to identify potentially exposed individuals, conduct medical monitoring, provide clinical guidance, and prepare healthcare systems for potential response measures. No sustained virus transmission occurred in the US during the monitoring period.

According to the CDC, 18 US passengers potentially exposed were repatriated from the M/V Hondius cruise ship last May and placed under public health monitoring. All 18 individuals have completed the monitoring period without any confirmed cases of infection.

The outbreak was linked to the Andes virus, a strain of hantavirus that can involve limited person-to-person transmission. The CDC stated that the overall risk to the US public remained low throughout the containment process.

“The successful conclusion of this containment effort demonstrates the strength of coordination against infectious disease threats occurring beyond our borders,” said Jay Bhattacharya, acting director of the US CDC.