Kansas has 3 hantavirus exposures connected to cruise ship outbreak

Kansas public health officials report that three people are being monitored after they had a "high-risk exposure" to someone with hantavirus.

"At this time, there are no suspected or confirmed cases of hantavirus in Kansas," the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said in a May 12 press release. "KDHE continues to assess the risk to the public from the Andes hantavirus as extremely low. KDHE will provide additional updates to the public as necessary."

Hantaviruses are typically spread through contact with droppings, urine or saliva of infected rodents, but the Andes virus can spread from person to person.

There is a current outbreak connected to a cruise ship. While none of the three people in Kansas were on that cruise ship, their exposure is connected to that outbreak.

"The exposure occurred internationally after contact with an individual from the MV Hondius cruise ship who later tested positive for Andes hantavirus," the KDHE press release said.

A KDHE spokesperson told The Capital-Journal the exposure happened on an international flight.

The three people in Kansas "are not currently experiencing symptoms." They are being monitored by KDHE, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and an unidentified local health department.

The agency did not confirm whether the individuals are Kansans or out-of-state people who are in Kansas. The agency also did not confirm where the individuals are or whether they are in quarantine.

"We will not be releasing any additional information about the individuals being monitored to protect their privacy," said Preston Webb, a KDHE spokesperson.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.