The CDC has released a Health Alert Network notification cautioning healthcare professionals and public health officials about a newly identified cluster of hantavirus infections linked to the Andes virus, which appears to be associated with a cruise ship in the Atlantic. Although the CDC assesses the likelihood of widespread transmission across the United States as very low, it has provided recommendations for health departments, laboratories, and medical practitioners throughout the country. At the same time, the agency has identified West Nile virus positive samples in Texas and Louisiana—two states already facing serious flooding as the summer mosquito season commences. These flooding conditions significantly enhance the breeding of mosquitoes and the risk of West Nile virus spread. Residents of Texas and Louisiana should remain vigilant this summer.
