New Jersey residents on Antarctic cruise with hantavirus have returned to the U.S.

International health officials are monitoring cases of hantavirus, a disease typically spread by contact with rodent feces, after three people on a 147-person Antarctic cruise have died and eight sickened as of May 11. Independent experts have said that human-to-human transmission is rare and requires close proximity to those recently infected for prolonged periods of time. There have been no confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission outside the cruise ship. Eighteen U.S. residents who were on the cruise returned to the country Monday. They are being evaluated in Nebraska and Georgia and will be asked to self-isolate upon release for up to 42 days if they are asymptomatic. Two New Jerseyans who shared a flight with a now-deceased cruise ship passenger are also being monitored. It is not clear where in N.J. they are being monitored. In a press release, the state Department of Health said it is coordinating with local and federal health offices and will provide updates as the situation develops. People who experience symptoms of fatigue, fever, muscle aches, chills, dizziness, and abdominal problems should stay home and contact their health care provider.

From Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.