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TRENTON - Two New Jersey residents may have been exposed to hantavirus after contact with an infected person who had traveled on the cruise ship MV Hondius, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
Officials say the potential exposure happened during air travel abroad, not on the cruise ship, and neither person is currently showing symptoms.
What we know:
The New Jersey Department of Health is working with local health officials to monitor the two travelers as a precaution. Officials say the individuals were not passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
What they're saying:
"To protect patient privacy, NJDOH will not release residence information or other identifying details," according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
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5 sickened in deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard cruise ship
The World Health Organization is investigating an apparent outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship. A total of five people have been sickened in the deadly outbreak.
Health officials emphasize that the risk to the general public in New Jersey remains very low. There are no current hantavirus cases in the state, and New Jersey has never reported a confirmed case.
Big picture view:
Hantaviruses found in the United States are typically carried by rodents and do not spread between people.
Hantavirus is 'not the next COVID,' experts say: What to know
As health authorities work to contain the spread of a rare hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship, experts say it's not something most people should worry about.
The strain linked to the MV Hondius outbreak, known as Andes virus, is found in South America and is the only hantavirus known to spread from person to person, though this is rare and usually requires close, prolonged contact.
By the numbers:
The incubation period for Andes virus ranges from four to 42 days. Asymptomatic people are not considered infectious, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
What is hantavirus? Symptoms, how it spreads and why experts are watching it
Health agencies in several other states are also monitoring returning travelers. The New Jersey Department of Health says it will continue to coordinate with local and federal partners and provide updates as more information becomes available.
What we don't know:
It is not yet clear if the two monitored individuals will develop symptoms or if any additional exposures have occurred. The situation is evolving, and more details may emerge as health officials continue their investigation.