Note: The above videos are related to hantavirus. WALB’s Ashanti Drake will have coverage specific to this story this evening.

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Health officials are keeping a close watch on a small group of people for possible hantavirus exposure connected to a cruise ship, but an Albany doctor said he does not believe residents in Southwest Georgia need to take extraordinary precautions right now.

Dr. James Edward Black, a medical director at Phoebe in Albany, said hantavirus is not new, but cases in the United States are typically sporadic and relatively rare. He said the virus is most often associated with exposure to rodent waste, including urine and droppings, and people can lower their risk by taking safety steps when cleaning areas where rodents may have been.

“Hantavirus is a disease that’s been around for quite some time, but we see sporadic cases that pop up,” Black said.

Black said the current concern stems from an outbreak investigation involving a cruise ship. He said early information indicated a Dutch couple may have come into contact with animals before boarding and then spent time in close proximity to others on the ship.

One of the biggest questions, Black said, is whether the strain being discussed can spread between people. While hantavirus is most commonly linked to rodents, Black said person-to-person transmission is possible in certain circumstances, though he described it as less contagious than viruses like COVID-19.

“Yes, it can transmit from person to person, but it’s not quite as easy as a lot of the other viruses we’ve dealt with,” he said, adding that the potential for spread is part of why some passengers and close contacts have been quarantined.

Black said symptoms can take time to appear, and people who are considered at risk may be monitored for up to six weeks after their initial exposure. He also clarified how health officials use quarantine versus isolation.

“When we quarantine people, we quarantine those people who are at risk but don’t have any symptoms,” Black said. “We will isolate them if they start to show symptoms or if they test positive.”

Black said early symptoms can be nonspecific, including fever and body aches symptoms that can look like influenza so exposure history and testing are key pieces in determining who may need medical evaluation.

He said it is possible for someone to test positive and have no symptoms, though he was unsure how common that is.

Black also addressed concerns after reports that someone tested positive in Georgia. He said the cases being managed in the state were tied to the cruise ship situation and were not believed to have been acquired in Georgia. Instead, he said some patients were brought to the area because Atlanta facilities, including Emory, have specialized capabilities to manage highly controlled care and containment.

For Albany and the rest of Southwest Georgia, Black said the best approach is basic prevention, especially for anyone cleaning garages, sheds or other areas where rodents may have been present. He recommends wearing a mask and taking precautions if there is evidence of droppings and practicing routine hygiene like handwashing.

“I’m always an advocate of washing hands and trying to be as safe as possible,” Black said. “But I don’t think we need to take any undue or extraordinary measures at this point in time.”

Black said the situation appears limited to the group connected to the cruise ship, but he encouraged people to stay aware as health officials learn more.

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