Kansas health officials monitoring 3 exposed to hantavirus
KMBC • • general
Key Points:
- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is monitoring three individuals exposed internationally to a person who tested positive for the Andes hantavirus after being on the MV Hondius cruise ship; these three were not on the ship and currently show no symptoms.
- The exposure is classified as high-risk due to factors like prolonged close contact or shared living space with a symptomatic individual, but there are no suspected or confirmed hantavirus cases in Kansas at this time.
- Andes hantavirus can spread person-to-person through close and prolonged contact with symptomatic individuals, with symptoms appearing 4 to 42 days after exposure, including fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and potentially severe lung illness.
- Health officials emphasize that individuals are only infectious when symptomatic, and the risk to the general public in Kansas is considered extremely low.
- Infectious disease experts commend Kansas health officials for their proactive monitoring and urge the public to remain calm and rely on trusted health information rather than panic.