CA Monitoring Hantavirus Cruise Passengers: What To Know

Passengers of a Dutch cruise ship that suffered a deadly outbreak of hantavirus have disembarked in California, where they are being monitored for potential infections, officials said Thursday.

Authorities have not said how many of the travelers are in California, one of three states — along with Georgia and Arizona — to receive travelers returning from the doomed cruise.

The strain of the rodent-carried hantavirus is different from the strain typically found in California because it can be transferred from person to person. It killed three of eight people infected aboard the cruise, according to the World Health Organization. The ship, the MV Hondius, is now near Cape Verde

The deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship has drawn comparisons to the early days of COVID-19 and the Grand Princess cruise ship ordeal, but infectious disease experts say the current situation should not worry Bay Area residents, according to a report by the SF Chronicle.

Health authorities believe two passengers were exposed to rodent feces in Argentina, the virus’ likely source, before boarding the ship, WHO reported.

Infection typically occurs when individuals inhale air containing the virus. Infected deer mice contaminate their urine, droppings, and nesting materials with the virus, according to the CDPH. When these contaminated substances are disturbed and become airborne, people can breathe in the virus, according to the California Department of Public Health.

The cruise ship strain, the Andes strain, is different from strains that circulate in California, which periodically cause small clusters of outbreaks in areas like Tahoe and Yosemite, WHO reported.

Last year, hantavirus killed three people in the rural California town of Mammoth Lakes.Tom Boo, Mono County Public Health Officer

"A third case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), each of which has been fatal, is tragic and alarming," Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County Public Health Officer, said at the time. "We don't have a clear sense of where this young adult may have contracted the virus. The home had no evidence of mouse activity. We observed some mice in the workplace, which is not unusual for indoor spaces this time of year in Mammoth Lakes. We haven't identified any other activities in the weeks before illness that would have increased this person's exposure to mice or their droppings."

RELATED: 3 Dead In CA From Same Virus That Killed Gene Hackman's Wife

He added that having three deaths from Hantavirus in a short period so early in the year "has him worried."

Contracting Hantavirus is extremely rare, according to health officials.

From 1993 to 2022, there were only 864 reported cases of hantavirus in the U.S.

"People shouldn’t worry about this kind of hantavirus, which is more localized to South America, particularly the southern part of Chile and Argentina,” UCSF infectious diseases specialist Dr. Peter Chin-Hong told the SF Chronicle.

While human-to-human transmission is possible with the Andes strain, it requires prolonged physical contact and does not spread as easily as COVID or the flu. Chin-Hong noted that there has been one other documented outbreak of human-to-human hantavirus transmission, also involving the Andes strain in Argentina.

Hantavirus has a high mortality rate, up to 40 percent, potentially leading to respiratory failure and requiring specialized care like an ECMO machine, according to WHO.

The disease infamously killed Betsy Arakawa, the wife of Gene Hackman, last year in the couple's New Mexico home, bringing more attention to the rare, but deadly, virus.

RELATED: Gene Hackman And Wife's Cause Of Death Identified

Although human hantavirus infection is rare in California, with only about three cases reported annually, it can be life-threatening, according to state public health data.

While the cruise ship outbreak is an "extremely rare occurrence," Chin-Hong advises Californians preparing for camping trips to take precautions against rodents, according to the SF Chronicle.

According to the CDPH, a person's risk of infection is higher when they engage in the following activities:

• Handling deer mice.
• Disturbing or cleaning up contaminated materials, such as deer mouse droppings or nests.
• Working in or entering enclosed spaces where deer mice are present and ventilation is poor.

"The main thing to remember is that if you’re going to rural cabins or campsites and see rat feces, be aware of it," Chin-Hong told the SF Chronicle. "Don’t sweep it up in an unventilated place."

The CDPH investigates human cases, evaluates sites to reduce rodent risks, and monitors he virus in wild rodents with partner agencies.

To prevent hantavirus infection, the CDHP advises to follow these steps to keep rodents out of structures and properly clean up any signs of infestation, avoiding contact with rodent urine, droppings, saliva, and nesting materials:

Keep Rodents Out and Trap Them

• Seal: Close up all holes and gaps where mice and other rodents might enter a structure.
• Trap: Use snap traps indoors to manage and reduce indoor mouse infestations.

Clean Up Safely

• Avoid Sweeping/Vacuuming: Do not use a broom or vacuum on rodent droppings, nests, or contaminated surfaces.
• Use Wet Cleaning: Always use wet cleaning methods. Wear protective gear when necessary.
• Sunlight for Non-Wet Items: For items that cannot be wet cleaned, such as couch cushions, place them outdoors. Ensure all contaminated surfaces are exposed to direct sunlight for several hours.

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Patch Staffer Amie Schaenzer contributed to this report.