US and French nationals test positive for hantavirus after cruise ship outbreak

By The Inspirer.

An American and a French national have tested positive for hantavirus after returning to their home countries following an outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, health authorities have confirmed.

The vessel, currently docked in Spain’s Canary Islands, has been at the centre of a growing international health response after multiple passengers fell ill and several deaths were reported during the voyage.

Patients isolated after repatriation

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the infected American passenger and a second U.S. national showing mild symptoms were transported back under strict biosecurity measures.

The department added that both individuals travelled in “biocontainment units out of an abundance of caution” and are now undergoing medical evaluation at a facility in Nebraska.

In France, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist confirmed that a French woman is currently isolating in Paris, where her condition is reported to be deteriorating. Authorities have traced 22 contact cases linked to her.

Wider international response

More than 90 passengers have been evacuated from the ship as part of coordinated repatriation efforts involving several countries.

The United States, United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, and Ukraine are among nations managing the return and quarantine of their citizens.

In the United Kingdom, passengers arriving from Tenerife were taken to isolation facilities for monitoring, while Spanish authorities placed evacuees under mandatory quarantine in Madrid.

Deaths linked to outbreak

At least three deaths have been reported among passengers who travelled on the vessel. Two of the deceased have been confirmed to have had hantavirus.

Health experts believe the infections may be linked to exposure to the Andes strain of hantavirus, which is typically carried by rodents and can, in rare cases, spread between humans.

The World Health Organization (WHO), led by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, had recommended a 42-day isolation period for passengers leaving the ship. However, U.S. health authorities opted for a different approach, citing low risk of widespread human-to-human transmission.

What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus infections can cause severe respiratory illness. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and difficulty breathing.

While human-to-human transmission is considered rare, health officials say close monitoring is essential in outbreak situations.

Ongoing monitoring

Public health agencies across affected countries continue to monitor passengers and contacts as repatriation efforts continue.

Officials have emphasized that, despite confirmed cases and fatalities, the overall risk of a large-scale outbreak remains low, but surveillance and isolation measures are being maintained as a precaution