Hantavirus updates: Canadian cruise ship passenger tests positive for hantavirus
All of the 18 American ship passengers are at the Nebraska quarantine facility.
The total number of confirmed and probable cases of hantavirus of those who were onboard the MV Hondius cruise ship stands at 11, including two people confirmed to have died from the virus and one person who remains suspected to have died from the virus.
No cases of Andes hantavirus have been confirmed in the U.S. The eighteen American ship passengers are being monitored at the quarantine unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Key Headlines
- Canadian cruise ship passenger tests positive for hantavirus
- Health officials in Washington state tracking hantavirus case unrelated to cruise ship
- 2 cruise ship passengers originally in Atlanta now at Nebraska quarantine facility
- Suspected hantavirus case at upstate New York high school, not linked to cruise ship
- US has no cases of Andes hantavirus
What is hantavirus and how does it spread?
Here's what you need to know about hantavirus including what it is, how it spreads, how it's treated and if there are any prevention methods:
What is hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause serious illnesses and death, according to the CDC.
How does hantavirus spread?
Hantaviruses may also spread from person to person, but that also is rare and only suspected for one subtype from South America, according to the WHO.
Read more about hantavirus here.
Trump says US in 'good shape,' adding, 'I hope it's fine'
President Donald Trump discussed the hantavirus outbreak on Monday, saying, "We think we're in very good shape. We're very careful."
“It’s been around for a long time," he said of the hantavirus. "People are very familiar with it. So, you know, I hope it's fine."
“All I can do is, everything that a president can do, which is something which is actually somewhat limited,” he continued.
Trump also defended his withdrawal from the World Health Organization earlier this year, saying he is “glad” he made this decision.
“No, I’m glad,” Trump said when asked if he regrets withdrawing from WHO.
“We weren't being treated well, and they were making the wrong diagnoses,” he claimed, later arguing that the organization either “lied” to him or “didn’t know.”
-ABC News’ Emily Chang
3 of the newly returned Americans live in New York
On Monday, 16 American cruise ship passengers arrived at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; 15 are in the quarantine unit and one person who tested positive is in the biocontainment unit.
Three of those passengers now in Nebraska are residents of New York, according to New York state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.
“One passenger is from New York City, while the other two are residents of Orange County and Westchester County. All three are expected to be subject to a 42-day monitoring period," McDonald said in a statement.
“It is important to emphasize that there is no immediate risk to the public,” McDonald added.
2 passengers at Emory in Atlanta, 1 symptomatic and 1 asymptomatic
Emory University Hospital said that, of the two cruise ship passengers now at its Serious Communicable Diseases Unit, one is symptomatic and is “receiving care in Emory’s biocontainment unit.”
The other passenger is asymptomatic and is “undergoing evaluation and monitoring.”
These two passengers are a couple, officials said earlier on Monday.
Breakdown of hantavirus cases and exposures
There are likely 10 total hantavirus cases, including one American and one French passenger who tested positive after disembarking the ship, officials said.
Of the 18 U.S. residents who were repatriated, 16 are in Nebraska: the one who tested positive is in biocontainment and the 15 who did not test positive are in quarantine, officials said. The other two U.S. residents are in Atlanta, officials said.
Additionally, nine U.S. cruise ship passengers who disembarked prior to the outbreak being discovered are being monitored by state health departments, officials said. Two are in Texas, two are in Georgia, one is in Virginia, one is in Arizona and one is in California.
Another two Americans who were exposed during air travel are in New Jersey, officials said.
-ABC News’ Youri Benadjaoud