American tests positive for hantavirus on ship; 18 under monitoring

The last passengers have been evacuated from a ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak, with one American testing positive for the virus, U.S. officials said.

Eighteen Americans are being monitored for symptoms as a precaution. The World Health Organization has stated that the risk to the general public remains low.

Hantavirus is transmitted through contact with infected rodent droppings. The shipboard outbreak prompted the full evacuation of the vessel as a containment measure.