Hantavirus fears heighten with 4 Californians exposed to the disease. Is the alarm warranted?

"While officials and infectious disease experts have been quick to note the seriousness of the rodent-borne disease, they have also stressed key differences between hantavirus and COVID-19. Namely, that this virus is far less transmissible."

"On Monday the California Department of Public Health said during a media briefing that four Californians had been exposed to the virus, but none had contracted it. Three of them were cruise ship passengers, while the fourth was a Sacramento resident who was on a plane with an infected person in South Africa."

"As of now, all four individuals lack symptoms and appear healthy, according to Dr. Erica Pan, director of the California Department of Public Health. One passenger, a Santa Clara resident, disembarked the cruise before the outbreak was recognized and returned to California, she said."

""This person was reported to our department last week and is being monitored by the local public health department where they live," Pan said. "The other two passengers disembarked over the weekend in the Canary Islands and have been flown" to a bio-containment facility"

Andes hantavirus exposure has been reported among passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship, including four Californians who returned to the United States. Public concern rose after reports of three passenger deaths aboard the ship and after officials said 18 U.S. passengers had disembarked. California Department of Public Health reported that four Californians were exposed but none had contracted the virus. Three were cruise passengers and one was a Sacramento resident who traveled on a plane with an infected person in South Africa. All four individuals currently lack symptoms and appear healthy. One passenger returned before the outbreak was recognized and is being monitored locally. Two others disembarked in the Canary Islands and were flown to a bio-containment facility.

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