Health officials feeling more confident that Hantavirus doesn’t spread as easily

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - People in coastal Georgia who were exposed to hantavirus continue to be in good health, and a flight attendant who was also exposed has tested negative for the virus.

Health officials are gathering more information on the hantavirus Andes strain, which can spread person to person.

“The only people that have been infected now are people that have been in prolonged close contact with those individuals,” said Dr. Timothy Connelly, an internal medicine physician at Memorial Health.

Connelly said the flight attendant’s negative test eases concerns about further spread.

“So every day that goes by even with this prolonged incubation time it’s becoming less and less likely that people are going to have to worry about this,” Connelly said.

Connelly said he spoke with Dr. Bonzo Reddick, the local director of public health, who said the coastal Georgia residents are doing well.

“He said he’s talked to them pretty extensively yesterday and they’re doing just fine,” Connelly said.

Connelly said the community can be certain the threat is over 35 days after the last person tested positive.

“So generally 35 days after the last person that was tested positive if nobody else is testing positive it would be astronomically unlikely for there to be anybody else affected due to this particular instance,” Connelly said.

The Georgia Department of Public Health said there was no new information to share about how they are monitoring the Georgia residents.