A San Francisco Bay Area resident who was on a cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak is being monitored by health officials. The resident has returned home to California, but no further details will be released due to medical privacy laws.

Outbreak Details

The MV Hondius cruise ship, sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, has been connected to nine confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus. Three people have died from the virus, according to the World Health Organization.

Passenger Disembarkation and Quarantine

Passengers began disembarking in the Canary Islands on Sunday. Among the nearly 150 people on board, 17 were Americans. The CDC sent a team of epidemiologists and medical professionals to assess exposure risks and recommend monitoring levels.

The Americans will be flown back to the U.S. on a plane provided by the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services. Upon return, they will be quarantined in a biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

About Hantavirus

Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses occasionally transmitted to humans. Infection usually occurs through contact with infected rodents, their urine, droppings, or saliva. The Andes hantavirus can spread between humans only through close and prolonged contact, such as among household members or intimate partners.