Two NJ residents potentially exposed to hantavirus, authorities say risk level remains low

Two New Jersey residents were potentially exposed to a person with hantavirus, according to a Friday press release from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH). The individual was infected during a deadly outbreak of the virus that began on a cruise ship in early April.

“The risk to the general public in New Jersey remains very low. No current hantavirus cases have been identified in the state, and there is no history of a confirmed hantavirus case reported in New Jersey,” NJDOH wrote in the press release. The release did not indicate where the residents were located, citing “patient privacy.” 

Hantaviruses are a rare but deadly strain of virus carried by rodents that can be transmitted to humans through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents, including breathing in virus particles. Since April 11, three deaths and at least five other cases have been reported since leaving the cruise ship, which disembarked at a port off Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday. 

The American citizens who evacuated from the cruise ship will be transported to the Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., to be monitored and assessed. 

Princeton University Health Services said that the risk to the campus community remained low. 

“UHS is not recommending any special precautions, restrictions, or changes to campus activities at this time,” University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote in a statement to The Daily Princetonian.

The NJDOH is working with other local health departments to monitor potential contacts with those who left the cruise ship MV Hondius. 

The two exposed New Jersey residents were not aboard the cruise ship but may have been exposed to an infected person during air travel abroad. Neither resident is currently showing symptoms suggesting hantavirus infection.

The recent outbreak of hantavirus was caused by the Andes virus, the only known strain that can be transmitted between humans.

“[Human to human] transmission is rare and generally requires close, prolonged contact with an infected individual or their bodily fluids. The incubation period ranges from four to 42 days and asymptomatic persons are not considered infectious,” the NJDOH press release said. 

It is believed that the virus was brought onto the cruise ship by a couple who were infected before boarding in Argentina on April 1. En route to St. Helena, on April 11, a Dutch national went into respiratory distress and died on board the ship. On April 26, his wife died while trying to fly home. She was confirmed to have been infected with the virus. 

Dutch health officials have been working to track down those who may have come into contact with the wife as she attempted to fly home, as well as the dozens of passengers who disembarked at St. Helena on April 24.

The outbreak was first reported to the World Health Organization on May 2.

While rare, the virus can be deadly. Out of those who develop respiratory symptoms, 38 percent “may die,” according to the CDC. 

The CDC is operating on a Level 3 response, its lowest level of emergency activation.

“Students should continue to follow standard health and safety practices and report potential evidence of rodent activity to Facilities,” Morrill wrote.

Sophia Hopper is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Raleigh, N.C., and can be reached at sh1943[at]princeton.edu.

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.