King County, Washington: 3 residents under hantavirus monitoring after MV Hondius / KL592 exposures - 2 flight-contacts + 1 cruise passenger now at UNMC

King County Public Health (May 12 2026, primary release): 'Public Health was notified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that three King County residents were potentially exposed to the Andes type of hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship.' 'Two King County residents were sitting on an airplane near an ill cruise ship passenger who was removed from the aircraft before takeoff and later tested positive. Both residents have returned to King County. They are both asymptomatic and are monitoring for symptoms at home in coordination with Public Health - Seattle & King County.' 'Public Health is also aware of a third King County resident who was a passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship. This resident is currently asymptomatic and is being monitored for symptoms along with other American passengers at the national quarantine center.' 'Currently, no one in King County has symptoms of hantavirus and there are no cases of the virus in King County. The risk to the public remains low.' The two flight-near-contacts are part of the KL592 (Johannesburg-Amsterdam, April 25) contact-tracing exercise around MVH-002, the Dutch widow removed from the aircraft before takeoff. The third resident is inside the existing UNMC cohort.

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Author

King County Public Health

Disease

hantavirus