A Bay Area resident who was stranded on a cruise ship during the deadly hantavirus outbreak has returned to Santa Clara County and is being monitored by health officials.
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department confirmed Sunday that a county resident has returned to California after being exposed to Andes hantavirus on the MV Hondius. Three people aboard the luxury cruise ship have died, and at least nine others have suspected cases.
The California resident is being monitored in coordination with the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency said.
CDPH acknowledged in a statement Friday One California resident had already returned home, but did not disclose where they lived. Another Californian was still on board as of Friday, the agency said.
“At this time, there is no known risk to the public in Santa Clara County,” said Sarah Rudman, director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.
The CDC has stressed that the risk to the American public remains “extremely low” as American passengers stranded on ships begin returning home.
Hantavirus is a rare disease that is usually spread to humans through the inhalation of particles contaminated with rodent urine, feces or saliva.
passengers started disembarking The ship docked in the Canary Islands on Sunday.. The CDC says it has sent a team to conduct a risk assessment for every American traveler.
