90-Second Read: Contact tracing could be key in halting the spread of Hantavirus. Here's how it works

Here's how authorities are using the practice of contact tracing to contain the outbreak and keep the Hantavirus from spreading. The concept of modern contact tracing dates to the 1930s and was part of an effort to stop the spread of syphilis. Public health officials argue that contact tracing is a powerful approach that will reduce further spread. The race is on to find all passengers who left the infected cruise ship to monitor their health — and the health of those they've interacted with. The risk of further spread of this virus is low since it requires close and prolonged contact with an infected individual — and those infected seem to transmit the virus for only a brief period of time.

It starts by pinpointing someone with an infection or suspected infection of the disease in question — in this case, Hantavirus. Contact tracing was vital during the fight against COVID-19 and helped end the Ebola crisis in Liberia, containing the epidemic there more than a decade ago. Authorities are hoping for similar success with this Hantavirus outbreak. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today. An international team of disease detectives is now racing to connect with the more than two dozen passengers who disembarked the MV Honius cruise ship on the Atlantic island of St.

So you have to stratify by high, intermediate and low-risk contacts." The next step involves public health agencies ordering precautions for those who are infected or who may be infected but aren't showing symptoms yet. One challenge that Hantavirus presents is that its incubation period can last up to several weeks. Fortunately, the flight attendant ultimately tested negative for Hantavirus. Some of the contact tracing even involved hours-long hikes through the jungle to a remote village. But public health officials want to make sure the outbreak is contained.

It involves locating the close contacts of anyone who may have been infected. Epidemiologists then look to see with whom they've recently had close contact since these individuals are more likely to have been infected. Otherwise, it becomes an impossible web to contain because everyone is connected to everyone," says Boghuma Titanji, an infectious diseases doctor at Emory University. Such measures may include quarantine, so that an individual doesn't come into contact with even more people — who may then become infected. This is why officials were concerned when a KLM flight attendant fell ill after being aboard a flight with one of the infected cruise ship passengers.