Officials in Arizona, Georgia monitoring some hantavirus cruise ship passengers who have returned to US

Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious virus primarily spread through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. People can become infected when virus particles become airborne and are inhaled, particularly in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas contaminated by rodents.

Officials emphasized that hantavirus does not typically spread person-to-person in most forms found in the United States. The current monitoring efforts are described as precautionary while health departments continue evaluating potential exposure risks.