Maryland Monitors Two Residents for Possible Hantavirus Exposure After Flight Contact

Two Maryland residents are under monitoring for potential hantavirus exposure, the Maryland Department of Health said.

The residents shared a flight with a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship who carried the virus. They did not travel on the cruise ship itself. Health officials described the monitoring as a precaution. The risk to Maryland's public remains very low, state health officials said.

The department withheld further details on the residents to protect their privacy. Officials will track them through the virus's incubation period, which lasts from four to 42 days. Asymptomatic people do not spread the virus, authorities noted.

Maryland has reported no hantavirus cases since 2019. The state has never identified Andes virus infections. Health officials are working with federal and international partners as the situation develops.

Hantavirus typically spreads through contact with infected rodents. The Andes virus strain linked to the cruise ship is the only known type that transmits person to person. "The hantaviruses that are found throughout the United States are not known to spread between people," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome starts with flu-like symptoms and can lead to severe lung and heart issues. Early signs include fatigue, fever and muscle aches. About half of patients also have headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, according to the CDC.