The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is currently monitoring two state residents following their potential exposure to hantavirus, officials announced Friday, May 8, 2026. The notification came after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted state authorities that the individuals may have come into contact with a person infected with the virus.
According to the New Jersey Department of Health, the potential exposure is linked to an individual who had departed from the cruise ship MV Hondius. However, health officials emphasized that the two New Jersey residents were not passengers on the ship; the exposure is believed to have occurred during air travel abroad.
At this time, neither individual has reported symptoms suggestive of hantavirus. As a precaution, the NJDOH is coordinating with local health officials to monitor returning travelers. To protect patient privacy, the department has declined to release the residence information or identifying details of the two individuals.
Understanding the Andes Virus and Transmission Risks
The strain of hantavirus associated with the MV Hondius outbreak is known as the Andes virus. Found in South America, the Andes virus is distinct from hantaviruses typically found within the United States. While hantaviruses circulating in the U.S. Are carried by rodents and are not known to spread between humans, the Andes virus is the only known strain capable of person-to-person transmission.
Health officials note that such person-to-person transmission remains rare. It generally requires close, prolonged contact with an infected individual or exposure to their bodily fluids. This distinction is critical for assessing the risk to the broader community, as the primary mode of hantavirus infection globally remains contact with rodent excreta.
Public Health Risk in New Jersey
Despite the potential exposure, the NJDOH has stated that the risk to the general public in New Jersey remains very low. The department highlighted that there are currently no identified hantavirus cases in the state, nor is there a history of any confirmed hantavirus cases ever reported in New Jersey.
The monitoring process is guided by the biological characteristics of the virus. The incubation period for hantavirus ranges from four to 42 days. Crucially, health officials have clarified that asymptomatic persons—those not showing symptoms—are not considered infectious, further lowering the likelihood of wider community spread.
Monitoring and Next Steps
The New Jersey Department of Health continues to work in tandem with the CDC to ensure that all potential contacts are identified and tracked throughout the incubation window. The focus remains on the two residents and any other returning travelers who may have had similar contact during their travels abroad.
The state will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available. Residents are encouraged to follow official health advisories for further guidance on travel-related health risks.
The NJDOH will maintain monitoring of the affected individuals through the end of the 42-day incubation period to ensure public safety.
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