Hantavirus Patients Arrive in Atlanta
ATLANTA – Passengers from the M/V Hondius cruise ship are returning home after a hantavirus outbreak connected to the ship, with some Georgia travelers now under medical supervision.
Connections to Hantavirus Cruise Ship
The Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed that two residents who were on the cruise have returned to the state. Fortunately, both are asymptomatic and are following recommendations from the CDC.
New Patients Arrive in Atlanta
This morning around 9 a.m., two additional passengers who tested positive for hantavirus arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on a special flight from Omaha, Nebraska.
SKYFOX captured footage of the patients being assisted from the plane to ambulances waiting below, which were from Grady University Hospital.
They were then taken to Emory University Hospital situated on Clifton Road. The SKYFOX team was overhead as these patients were unloaded and brought inside.
Nebraska health officials confirmed that these individuals were transported to Atlanta.
Georgia’s Department of Public Health also stated that the patients were admitted to Emory’s Serious Communicable Diseases Unit, and federal healthcare workers are ensuring that all necessary precautions are in place. They indicated no public risk at this time and are in constant touch with the CDC, located near Emory.
No statement has been released yet from Emory University Hospital.
More Than a Dozen Americans on the Ship
The outbreak on the M/V Hondius has gained international attention as multiple passengers fell ill. Health officials linked this outbreak to the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can rarely spread between people.
Federal officials reported that over a dozen Americans were relocated overnight to a national quarantine facility in Omaha. Some passengers developed mild symptoms during their journey, while one passenger tested mildly positive for the virus.
This outbreak has been connected to a birdwatching tour in Argentina prior to the cruise’s departure. It’s believed that exposure to infected rodent droppings may have initiated the infection before it spread among those on board.
Health Recommendations
The World Health Organization has advised 42 days of active monitoring for passengers returning to their home countries, but health officials emphasize that the general public risk remains low.
Unanswered Questions
Details regarding the two patients arriving in Georgia have not been disclosed by authorities.
This is a breaking news update. Information may change, so check back for updates.
