May 6 (Reuters) – The United States is closely monitoring the situation with U.S. travelers on \u200bboard the luxury cruise ship that was hit by \u200ca hantavirus outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three people – a Dutch couple and a German national – have died in the outbreak \u200bon the MV Hondius. Eight people, including a Swiss \u200bcitizen, are suspected to have contracted the virus, according \u2060to the World Health Organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hantavirus usually spreads through contact with \u200binfected rodents and human-to-human transmission is uncommon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The Department of State is \u200bleading a coordinated, whole-of-government response including direct contact with passengers, diplomatic coordination, and engagement with domestic and international health authorities,” the CDC said in a \u200bstatement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The risk to the American public is extremely low \u200bat this time, the CDC added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People in at least three U.S. states \u200cwere \u2060being monitored for potential hantavirus infections after the outbreak on the MV Hondius, though none had shown signs of illness, the New York Times reported earlier on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Georgia is monitoring two residents, \u200bwhile California is \u200bmonitoring an \u2060undisclosed number of residents who had also been on the ship, the newspaper said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Georgia and \u200bCalifornia departments of public health did not immediately \u200brespond \u2060to requests for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Arizona Department of Health Services said in an emailed statement to Reuters that it was monitoring one resident \u2060who \u200bwas a passenger on the ship and \u200bthat the individual was not symptomatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n