One adult has died of a hantavirus in Colorado, but the case is not linked to the recent outbreak on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, officials with that state’s Department of Public Health and Environment announced.
The strain of hantavirus responsible for the death of the patient in Douglas County occurs frequently in the area at this time of year. Authorities are investigating the source from which the virus originated.
The cruise ship MV Hondius docked in Rotterdam today. It was carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when it reported to the World Health Organization that some of them were developing a serious respiratory illness. Three people died on the cruise ship and eight more confirmed and two suspected cases were identified, according to the WHO.
Ebola measures
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also announced that they are taking measures to reduce the risk of Ebola virus spreading in the US. Among other things, they will intensify screening of travelers arriving from areas where an outbreak has broken out, and Washington will coordinate with airlines and other stakeholders to manage passengers who may have already been exposed to the virus.
The CDC will also step up contact tracing of suspected cases and put hospitals nationwide on alert. Restrictions on entry into the US do not apply to US passport holders, US citizens and legal, permanent residents, the agency noted.
However, according to the CDC, the immediate risk to the general public is considered low.
