Seventeen American passengers exposed to Hantavirus have been brought to the Nebraska Medical Center in the United States, where they will remain under quarantine and medical observation for 42 days. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the passengers were flown back on a special government aircraft after possible exposure aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. The ship had reportedly docked at Spain’s Canary Islands, where Hantavirus cases were detected. Officials confirmed that one passenger has tested positive for Hantavirus infection, while another has shown mild symptoms. Both individuals were transported under special medical security protocols. Doctors are now conducting medical examinations on the remaining passengers to determine whether any additional infections have occurred. Passengers found healthy may later be allowed to return home, though they will continue to remain under health surveillance. Symptoms can appear after several weeks Health experts said Hantavirus symptoms may take between one and eight weeks to appear after exposure. The infection can cause: High fever Body aches Weakness Difficulty breathing Kidney complications In severe cases, fluid may accumulate in the lungs, leading to life-threatening respiratory problems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the mortality rate in severe Hantavirus infections can reach 35-40% within six weeks of infection. Virus mainly spreads through rodents Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through exposure to urine, saliva or droppings of infected rodents such as rats and squirrels. The virus is named after South Korea’s Hantan River, where it was first identified. According to WHO, a specific strain known as the “Andes” variant can also spread between humans through close contact, including: Contact with saliva or respiratory secretions Sharing food Sleeping in close proximity Caregivers and family members of infected patients are considered at higher risk. CDC says virus does not spread easily US health officials stated that Hantavirus does not spread as easily as COVID-19. Jay Bhattacharya, acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said authorities are categorising passengers into low, medium and high-risk groups based on the level of contact with the infected individual. He said passengers without close contact would be considered low-risk. Officials added that most Hantavirus infections occur through direct exposure to infected rodents rather than human-to-human transmission. No specific cure or vaccine available There is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Hantavirus. Doctors manage patients based on symptoms and provide supportive care such as: Oxygen therapy Ventilator support Fluid management Blood pressure stabilisation Medical experts said early diagnosis and timely hospitalisation significantly improve survival chances. Passengers kept at special quarantine facility The passengers are being housed at the Nebraska Medical Center’s National Quarantine Unit, the only federally funded quarantine facility in the United States. The facility is equipped with negative air pressure rooms designed to prevent airborne spread of infectious diseases. Officials said the passengers were able to walk off the aircraft themselves before being transported directly to quarantine rooms. Dr Michael Wadman said the quarantine facility provides hotel-like arrangements, including room service, light exercise facilities and daily health monitoring. Passengers who develop symptoms will be shifted to the hospital’s specialised biocontainment unit for infectious disease treatment. Hantavirus cases reported worldwide According to the US National Institutes of Health, nearly 1.5 lakh Hantavirus cases are reported globally every year, with most cases recorded in Asia and Europe. China accounts for more than half of all reported infections worldwide. In 2018, an outbreak linked to a birthday gathering in Argentina infected 34 people and caused 11 deaths. The first major Hantavirus outbreak in the United States was reported in 1993, when an American couple died after exposure linked to rodents near their home. Hantavirus cases have also been reported in India India has also recorded isolated Hantavirus cases over the years. According to published medical reports: A 46-year-old man in Andhra Pradesh was diagnosed with the infection in 2007 In 2008, infections were reported among 28 people involved in catching rats and snakes In 2016, a woman in Mumbai died after developing severe Hantavirus symptoms shortly after childbirth Medical journals reported that the Mumbai patient experienced fever, severe abdominal pain, breathing difficulty and falling blood pressure before her death. Post-mortem findings later confirmed Hantavirus infection.
Emphasize accuracy and depth.