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Hantavirus cases detected in repatriated cruise passengers
An American and a French national who recently disembarked from a virus-stricken cruise ship have tested positive for hantavirus after returning to their home countries, health authorities confirmed on Monday.
US and French cases raise concerns
The US Department of Health and Human Services reported that two American passengers on a repatriation flight exhibited symptoms. One tested positive, while the second showed mild signs of illness. Both were transported in biocontainment units as a precautionary measure.
In France, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced that a woman isolated in Paris after returning from the MV Hondius was in deteriorating health. Authorities have identified 22 contacts linked to her case.
Outbreak details and fatalities
Three passengers-a Dutch couple and a German woman-have died after contracting the virus aboard the cruise ship, which remains docked in Spain's Canary Islands. Two of the deaths have been confirmed as hantavirus cases.
The Andes strain of hantavirus, believed to have been contracted by some passengers during stops in South America, can spread between humans. Symptoms include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle pain, gastrointestinal distress, and respiratory issues.
Despite the severity, officials emphasize that the risk of a large-scale outbreak remains low.
Repatriation efforts and monitoring
The US is assessing all 17 citizens repatriated from the ship at a Nebraska medical facility. Seven other Americans who returned earlier are being monitored in their home states. A British national residing in the US was also evacuated with the group.
Twenty British passengers arrived in Manchester on Sunday and were taken to Arrowe Park Hospital for a 72-hour isolation period. None have reported symptoms. Two other British nationals are receiving treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa.
Spain has quarantined 14 of its citizens at a military hospital in Madrid, with additional evacuation flights scheduled for Monday. The Netherlands received 26 passengers and crew, including eight Dutch nationals, on Sunday. Australia is repatriating six passengers, while 18 others will fly to the Netherlands via shared flights.
WHO guidelines and US response
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned that the US decision not to follow the organization's 42-day isolation recommendation for MV Hondius passengers "may have risks."
"Human-to-human transmission is rare, and we should not treat this like Covid-19,"
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Acting CDC Director
Dr. Bhattacharya defended the US approach, citing the low likelihood of widespread transmission and the need to avoid public alarm.
Onboard precautions
Passengers disembarked in Tenerife on Sunday wearing protective gear, including blue gowns, bouffant caps, and medical masks. The ship had five French nationals among its passengers.
