The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have issued Health Alert Network (HAN) advisories to inform clinicians and health departments about a new cluster of hantavirus disease cases caused by infection with Andes virus. Hantavirus disease can cause severe illness and can be fatal. The risk of broad spread to the United States is considered extremely unlikely at this time.
LA County Department of Public Health is not aware of any cruise ship passengers or close contacts of confirmed or suspected cases that will be returning to LA County.
As of May 9, CDPH has been notified of three California residents who were passengers on the cruise ship. One has returned to California, and two are currently at a facility in Nebraska for evaluation. A fourth traveler had contact with a known case while overseas and has returned to California. None of these individuals are from LA County.
Andes virus is a hantavirus species that is endemic to South America. It is different than the Sin Nombre virus, which is a hantavirus native to California and North America. Sin Nombre virus infections are rare in Los Angeles County with only nine cases detected in Los Angeles County since 2000. Among these, approximately half were fatal cases. Sin Nombre hantavirus is spread through contact with infected rodents, particularly deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), which are found in many parts of California.
Providers should contact Public Health immediately if a patient is identified with/suspected of having Hantavirus.
