Kansas health officials monitoring 3 exposed to hantavirus

THIS IS BREAKING NEWS FROM KMBC9. AND WE’RE FOLLOWING MULTIPLE BREAKING STORIES HERE AT FIVE. FIRST, THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS IT IS NOW MONITORING THREE PEOPLE FOR POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO HANTAVIRUS. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY CAME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO TESTED POSITIVE. THAT EXPOSURE HAPPENED OVERSEAS, LINKED TO A PASSENGER ON A CRUISE SHIP. THE THREE PEOPLE BEING MONITORED WERE NOT ON THAT SHIP, AND NONE ARE SHOWING SYMPTOMS. OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE STILL NO CONFIRMED CASES OF HANTAVIRUS IN KANSAS. TH

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is monitoring three people who were exposed to a person who later tested positive for hantavirus. Health officials say the three people were exposed internationally after contact with an individual who was on the MV Hondius cruise ship. That person later tested positive for the Andes hantavirus. Their exposure is considered a "high-risk exposure," which may include "prolonged close contact or shared living space with a symptomatic individual, or close proximity during travel." The three people were not on board the cruise ship, health officials say. They are not currently experiencing symptoms. "Based on our current knowledge of Andes virus, individuals are not considered infectious to others unless they become symptomatic," a KDHE news release said. While their status is being monitored, health officials say there are "no suspected or confirmed cases of hantavirus in Kansas." The health department will continue to monitor the risk. Officials say the risk to the public is "extremely low."“We do think the risk to the general public is very low from from the Andy strain of, of hantavirus,” said Sarah Boyd, an infectious disease physician with Saint Luke's Health System.Boyd said Kansas health officials appear to be handling the situation aggressively and carefully.“Is really reassuring to me, that that they're on top of it and able to help us and those people,” Boyd said.Hantaviruses are usually spread through contact with wild rodent droppings, urine or saliva, the KDHE said. The specific virus that caused the cruise ship outbreak is called the Andes virus, which can spread from person to person in situations involving close and prolonged contact with a symptomatic person. Symptoms of the Andes virus usually begin between four and 42 days after exposure. Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, nausea and more. People can develop a severe illness that affects the lungs and causes chest tightness and difficulty breathing. This can be deadly. “It's a longer window where symptoms could develop. But we do know, that in prior cases it was contact to an ill person,” Boyd said.Boyd said she does not expect the number of cases to grow significantly but encouraged people to rely on trusted health information instead of panic.“Be calm, know that the risk to the general public, is extremely low at this point,” Boyd said.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is monitoring three people who were exposed to a person who later tested positive for hantavirus.

Health officials say the three people were exposed internationally after contact with an individual who was on the MV Hondius cruise ship. That person later tested positive for the Andes hantavirus.

Their exposure is considered a "high-risk exposure," which may include "prolonged close contact or shared living space with a symptomatic individual, or close proximity during travel."

The three people were not on board the cruise ship, health officials say. They are not currently experiencing symptoms.

"Based on our current knowledge of Andes virus, individuals are not considered infectious to others unless they become symptomatic," a KDHE news release said.

While their status is being monitored, health officials say there are "no suspected or confirmed cases of hantavirus in Kansas."

The health department will continue to monitor the risk. Officials say the risk to the public is "extremely low."

“We do think the risk to the general public is very low from from the Andy strain of, of hantavirus,” said Sarah Boyd, an infectious disease physician with Saint Luke's Health System.

Boyd said Kansas health officials appear to be handling the situation aggressively and carefully.

“Is really reassuring to me, that that they're on top of it and able to help us and those people,” Boyd said.

Hantaviruses are usually spread through contact with wild rodent droppings, urine or saliva, the KDHE said. The specific virus that caused the cruise ship outbreak is called the Andes virus, which can spread from person to person in situations involving close and prolonged contact with a symptomatic person.

Symptoms of the Andes virus usually begin between four and 42 days after exposure. Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, nausea and more. People can develop a severe illness that affects the lungs and causes chest tightness and difficulty breathing. This can be deadly.

“It's a longer window where symptoms could develop. But we do know, that in prior cases it was contact to an ill person,” Boyd said.

Boyd said she does not expect the number of cases to grow significantly but encouraged people to rely on trusted health information instead of panic.

“Be calm, know that the risk to the general public, is extremely low at this point,” Boyd said.