The two people in Texas who were in quarantine after exposure to hantavirus aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius have successfully completed their 42-day quarantine without becoming infected.
This Andes strain of hantavirus caused the death of three people tied to the ship. Unlike the Sin Nombre hantavirus cases in the United States, the Andes strain can pass from person to person, not just through contact with infected rodents or their urine or droppings.
“I’d like to thank the passengers for their willingness to collaborate with public health throughout the monitoring period,” said Texas Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Varun Shetty. “I would also like to thank the many dedicated public health professionals who worked on this situation and work every day to keep their fellow Texans safe.”
What the end of quarantine means
Just because these two people are out of quarantine does not mean the risk of hantavirus in Austin goes down. It means it is unlikely for the disease to spread in Texas from this ship outbreak…