Two New Jersey residents may have been exposed to hantavirus after possibly coming into contact with passengers linked to a Dutch cruise ship at the center of a deadly outbreak.

According to Gov. Mikie Sherrill, the individuals were not passengers aboard the ship itself, but may have interacted with cruise passengers after they disembarked from the ship and took a flight abroad. Neither person has shown symptoms, and officials have not confirmed whether either contracted the virus.

Public health authorities stressed that there is currently “no apparent threat to the public,” even as officials continue monitoring potential exposures tied to the outbreak.

The concerns stem from a growing hantavirus outbreak connected to the cruise ship, where three people have died and several others are being monitored for possible infections. The outbreak has drawn international attention after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reportedly classified its response as a Level 3 emergency operation.

Hantavirus is a rare but potentially deadly disease most commonly spread through contact with infected rodents or exposure to their urine, droppings, or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is considered extremely uncommon, depending on the strain involved.

Symptoms can initially resemble the flu, including fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and headaches, before potentially progressing to severe respiratory distress in serious cases.

New Jersey officials have not released additional details about where the possible exposure occurred or whether further monitoring is underway.