SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Health has announced it’s monitoring a person in Minnesota who was possibly exposed to hantavirus overseas.
Officials say they were briefly exposed to someone who was on board the MV Hondius cruise and tested positive for the virus. That person doesn’t have any symptoms and has been cooperating with health officials.
MDH officials haven’t said where the person possibly exposed to hantavirus is in the state and emphasizes the risk to the public remains low.
“We are working closely with our partners in local public health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and healthcare. We recognize things may change over time and will stay in touch with our partners to share additional information as needed,” MDH officials said.
Since 1999, two cases of hantavirus have been acquired in Minnesota.
Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents which can spread to people and cause serious illness and death.
