SACRAMENTO – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has notified the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) of a fifth California resident with potential exposure to Andes hantavirus as a result of the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. This individual disembarked the MV Hondius before the outbreak was identified, returned briefly to California and left for additional travel also before the outbreak was identified. The individual is currently in the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Pacific. Their health is being monitored by the CDC, in coordination with British health officials, and they remain asymptomatic.
Andes Hantavirus Investigation in California
There are currently no reported cases of Andes hantavirus disease in California or in California residents, nor in United States residents.
In total, there are now five possibly exposed Californians undergoing monitoring for their health status. In addition to the person in the Pitcairn Islands, two individuals are in California in Santa Clara and Sacramento counties, and two are in the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, Nebraska. At this time, CDPH does not have additional information to share regarding the two Californians in Nebraska, including when they will return to the state.
Currently, to our knowledge, all five individuals undergoing public health monitoring do not have any symptoms of illness from hantavirus, and the two individuals in California are in close contact with local public health officials to assure they remain healthy and following public health direction to limit interaction with others.
CDPH remains in close contact with the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO). This is an evolving situation, and information is current as of May 13. New or changing information will be updated as it becomes available.
Helpful Language for Media and Communicators
CDPH, in coordination with its partners, is monitoring five individuals with possible exposure. There are no cases in California or among California residents.
Table of California Possible Exposures
| Exposure Location | Current Location | Current Status | Number of California Residents |
| Onboard MV Hondius | Santa Clara County | Undergoing monitoring; asymptomatic | 1 |
| Onboard MV Hondius | Nebraska | Undergoing monitoring; asymptomatic | 2 |
| On Flight with Known non-CA Case | Sacramento County | Undergoing monitoring; asymptomatic | 1 |
| Onboard MV Hondius | Pitcairn Islands | Undergoing monitoring; asymptomatic | 1 |
| Total: | 5 | ||