Maryland health officials are monitoring two residents after a possible hantavirus exposure linked to an infected passenger from the cruise ship M/V Hondius.
Officials say the Maryland residents were not on the cruise ship, but briefly shared an international flight with someone who later tested positive for the rare Andes strain of hantavirus. Health leaders say the risk to the public remains very low, and the monitoring is being done out of an abundance of caution.
The Andes virus is the only known strain capable of person-to-person transmission, though experts say it typically requires prolonged close contact. State officials say no hantavirus cases have been reported in Maryland since 2019.
By: Dianah Gibson
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