Two Americans who were not onboard the cruise ship linked to the global hantavirus outbreak are being monitored for symptoms – as officials warn it could take weeks for the 17 evacuated US passengers to know if they are sick.
The Maryland Department of Health made the announcement on Monday, as a final group of 28 passengers disembarked the MV Hondius.
Officials now believe the ‘potential exposure occurred during air travel abroad,’ when the two were flying with somebody who has tested positive.
The strain of the potentially deadly virus that is spreading around the world has been linked to previous cases in which the virus spread via human transmission, though such transmission is rare and generally requires close, prolonged contact with an infected individual or their bodily fluids.
It may then take weeks for people to find out if they have the virus, as the incubation period ranges from four days to 42 days.
‘The Maryland Department of Health is coordinating closely across all levels of government, as well as with leading experts and medical facilities that have Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers,’ officials said in a statement, noting that the Andes strain of the virus has never been reported in the state before.
Meanwhile, authorities in New York announced that three residents of the Empire State were among those onboard the Norwegian-flagged ship.
One was from New York City, while the other two are residents of Orange County and Westchester County, ABC 7 reports.
The Midterm Virus