More than a half dozen U.S. states are monitoring individuals who have either been exposed to or exhibiting symptoms of hantavirus, the disease at the center of a deadly cruise ship outbreak.
The American passengers on board the MV Hondius ship did not return stateside until after evacuating on May 10. Before then, some passengers, including U.S. residents, were potentially exposed to the virus from ship passengers who disembarked and were later found to have been infected.
The majority of the American passengers are now quarantining in Nebraska where they will be monitored for symptoms. Two were sent to Atlanta for further assessment, officials said.
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Hantavirus is a virus usually transmitted to people through contact with rodents' urine, feces or saliva. The strain at the center of the outbreak has been confirmed as the Andes virus, which is believed to spread person-to-person, according to the World Health Organization.
Here's a look at which states are tracking exposures.
See map of states monitoring hantavirus
Officials in eight states are monitoring hantavirus exposures or possible infections.
The map below shows where potentially impacted people are quarantining or being monitored. It is still unclear in which states the passengers who returned to the U.S. on May 11 reside: two were transferred to Georgia for closer monitoring and 16 remain in Nebraska.
Which states are tracking possible hantavirus exposures?
The following states are currently monitoring hantavirus:
- Arizona: One state resident was recently a passenger on the ship but is not symptomatic and is being monitored, Magda Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Health Services, said in a May 7 email to The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.
- California: Two residents were recently on the ship but had returned to California before the outbreak was recognized. Separately, two Californians remained on the ship prior to its evacuation and are now quarantining in Nebraska, Erica Pan, director of California's Department of Public Health, said at a May 11 press conference.
- Georgia: Two residents who traveled on MV Hondius are "currently in good health and show no signs of infection," the Georgia Department of Public Health said in a statement to USA TODAY on May 6. Separately, two passengers on the MV Hondius are currently in a quarantine unit at Emory University in Georgia, health officials said during a May 11 press conference hosted by the University of Nebraska.
- Maryland: Two Maryland residents were on a flight that briefly included a passenger from the MV Hondius who was infected with hantavirus, the Maryland Department of Health said in a May 11 press release.
- Nebraska: Sixteen passengers from the MV Hondius – including 15 U.S. residents and one British dual national – are currently being monitored at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, health officials said at the May 11 press conference.
- New Jersey: Two people living in the state were potentially exposed to a person infected with hantavirus who departed from the MV Hondius. The residents were not passengers on the cruise ship; the potential exposure occurred during air travel. Neither person has any symptoms, the state's health department announced on May 8.
- Texas: Two residents were passengers on the ship and returned to the U.S. before the outbreak was identified. They have not experienced any symptoms, the state's health department said in a statement on May 7.
- Virginia: One resident who returned home from the ship is in good health and is being monitored, Virginia Department of Health spokesperson Maria Reppas told USA TODAY on May 7.
Which states are American passengers in quarantine from?
The 18 passengers who are currently quarantining in Nebraska and Georgia include 17 U.S. residents and one British dual national. Of the Americans, it's unclear which states they all reside in. Here's what we know so far:
- New York - 3 passengers: The New York Department of Health announced that three of the state's residents are among those quarantining in Nebraska. One person is from New York City, and the other two are residents in Orange County and Westchester County, according to a press release.
- Utah - 3 passengers: Three Utah residents are also currently quarantining after evacuating from the ship, the state's Department of Health and Human Services said.
- California - 2 passengers: Two Californians remained on the ship prior to its evacuation and are now quarantining in Nebraska, Erica Pan, director of California's Department of Public Health, said at a May 11 press conference.
This story has been updated with new information.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Map shows which states are monitoring for hantavirus cases in the US
