Five U.S. states are monitoring residents who returned from a cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak that left at least three passengers dead.
According to the World Health Organization, eight suspected cases were reported aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, with five confirmed as hantavirus infections and three still under investigation.
Health officials in Georgia, California, Arizona, Virginia, and Texas are now tracking passengers who returned home from the voyage. So far, officials say no illnesses have been reported among those being monitored.
The ship, carrying nearly 150 passengers, had traveled from Argentina toward Antarctica before crossing the Atlantic. It is currently docked near Cape Verde off the west coast of Africa.
The outbreak has been linked to the Andes strain of hantavirus, which in rare cases can spread between people. The virus is usually transmitted through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva.
Symptoms often begin like the flu, including fever, chills, headaches, and muscle pain, before potentially progressing into severe respiratory complications.
Despite the deaths, the WHO says the broader public health risk remains low while remaining passengers and crew continue to be evaluated.