U.S. reports no hantavirus cases from cruise outbreak, monitors 41

There are no confirmed cases in the United States of the Andes hantavirus outbreak that killed three people aboard a luxury cruise ship this month, U.S.

health officials said on Thursday, but 41 people, including 18 quarantined in Nebraska and Atlanta, are being monitored for possible infection.



The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the 41 people include passengers who had returned to the United States before the outbreak was identified and others who may have been exposed on flights where a symptomatic case was present.



Most of the people being monitored should stay at home and avoid contact with others during the six-week monitoring period, said Dr. David Fitter, the incident manager for the CDC's hantavirus response.



The University of Nebraska Medical Center, where 16 of the 18 passengers who were flown back are currently being monitored, said on Wednesday that one passenger initially placed in a biocontainment unit had been medically cleared to move to a quarantine unit with the others.



The CDC did not give additional information about the patient, whom it initially said had tested "mildly positive" before saying the results were inconclusive and the person would be tested again.