Arizona health officials have confirmed that a second person from the state was aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius during a hantavirus outbreak that has resulted in multiple illnesses and deaths.
The Arizona Department of Health Services announced Tuesday that the newly identified passenger is among several travelers taken to Nebraska for medical evaluation following the outbreak. Officials said the individual will return to Arizona once assessments are completed and transportation can be arranged safely.
Authorities also disclosed that a previously identified Arizona passenger lives in Maricopa County and remains under observation by local public health officials. According to the state, that person has not developed symptoms associated with hantavirus since returning home earlier this month.
Health experts say hantavirus infections can be difficult to detect before symptoms emerge because testing is generally ineffective in asymptomatic individuals. Symptoms may take several weeks to appear after exposure, prompting health agencies to conduct ongoing monitoring of potentially affected passengers.
The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has been linked to the Andes virus strain of hantavirus, a rare form known to circulate in South America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Andes strain is the only hantavirus capable of spreading between people, though transmission typically requires prolonged close contact.
So far, officials have confirmed three deaths and nine additional infections connected to the voyage.
