U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has wrapped up response to hantavirus outbreak linked to cruise ship MV Hondius. Three people died . Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed end of nearly two months of monitoring. No new cases emerged in U.S.,all under observation completed their monitoring period.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr . stated “no sustained transmission of hantavirus occurred in United States,” emphasizing how well public health response worked. Outbreak tied to Andes virus, a hantavirus variant in Argentina and Chile. Ship left Argentina April 1,carrying 18 U.S. residents when outbreak began.
All U.S. citizens exposed to virus on ship finished their 42-day monitoring Sunday. Returned to home states after stay at National Quarantine Unit. CDC kept risk to general public very low throughout.
Response involved CDC,Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR),and international health authorities. CDC acting director Jay Bhattacharya said successful response shows strength of unified approach to infectious threats from abroad.
Hantavirus spreads through infected rodents. Andes virus unique among hantaviruses for potential spread through prolonged human contact.
To trace outbreak's origins,CDC scientists went to Argentina. Worked with local public health officials,trapped and tested rodents along cruise route. Preliminary results from rodent samples negative for virus,said Dr. Jackson,acting director of CDC’s Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology.
End of monitoring period signals shift in response to outbreak,letting health officials return to routine measures. CDC keeps watch globally…
