Possible hantavirus case in upstate NY under investigation by health officials
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A “suspected” case of hantavirus is being investigated in upstate New York, according to the Ontario County Public Health Department (OCPHD) based in Canandaigua.
The Ministry announced in a statement Facebook post As of Thursday, it is currently “investigating a suspected case of locally acquired hantavirus.”
“There is NO connection to the cruise ship outbreak and there is no risk to the general public,” OCPHD officials wrote.
The investigation comes as global health authorities continue to monitor a rare hantavirus outbreak linked to the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, which sickened scores of passengers and crew and killed three people.
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As of May 13, the World Health Organization (WHO) said 11 cases of hantavirus had been identified in connection with the cruise outbreak, including eight confirmed cases, two probable cases and one inconclusive case. All three deaths are linked to the outbreak.
Health officials emphasized that hantavirus infections are rare and the risk to the public is low.
Human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is extremely rare and is suspected only in certain strains, including the Andean hantavirus strain linked to the cruise ship outbreak.
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A passenger wearing a face mask and blue protective apron gives his thumbs up inside the bus after disembarking from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which contracted hantavirus, at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Spain’s Canary Islands, May 10. (Manu Fernandez/AP Photo)
“Hantavirus infections are rare in New York,” OCPHD said. “The virus is spread through mouse and rodent droppings, particularly when urine, feces or nesting materials are aerosolized during cleaning.”
OCPHD urged residents to take precautions when cleaning indoor spaces where rodents may be present, including wearing gloves and masks when opening or cleaning attics, cabins, sheds and garages.
OCPHD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
HANTAVIRUS PROTOCOL VIOLATION WAS NOTIFIED IN HOSPITAL FORCES, 12 EMPLOYEES WERE QUARANTINED FOR 6 WEEKS
A 3D rendering shows the structure of hantavirus, an RNA virus that is transmitted to humans through rodent feces and can cause serious illnesses such as hemorrhagic fever, kidney disease and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. (iStock)
The cruise ship outbreak led to increased measures internationally.
In the Netherlands, Radboud University Medical Center quarantined 12 staff after officials said the blood and urine of a hantavirus patient were not handled under the strictest international protocols required for the particular strain of the virus.
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Hospital officials said the risk of infection to staff remained low but described the quarantine as a precautionary measure.
The outbreak on the MV Hondius began when a Dutch cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew left Argentina for a South Atlantic cruise on April 1.
According to the World Health Organization, researchers believe the initial infection may have resulted from exposure to rodents during birdwatching excursions prior to embarkation.
Fox News Digital’s Bonny Chu contributed to this report.
