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Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak: Symptoms Emerge During Repatriation
11 May
Summary
- A French passenger showed hantavirus symptoms during repatriation flight.
- Three passengers have died, two confirmed with hantavirus infection.
- Over 90 passengers evacuated and placed into strict isolation.
A French passenger aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, which experienced a hantavirus outbreak, began showing symptoms during repatriation to France. This individual, along with four other French citizens evacuated from the vessel, was immediately placed into strict isolation upon arrival.
The ship had anchored off the Canary Islands, leading to the evacuation of over 90 tourists. Sadly, three passengers have died, with two confirmed hantavirus cases. The departing passengers included nationals from Spain, Britain, the Netherlands, Turkey, Ireland, and the United States.
Those returning to France are quarantined for 72 hours and assessed before self-isolating for 45 days. Spanish nationals are in mandatory quarantine in Madrid, while British citizens were flown to Manchester and Dutch nationals to the Netherlands.
Hantaviruses, typically spread by rodents, can cause severe illness in humans. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and respiratory distress. The WHO suspects the Andes strain may have been contracted by passengers in South America.
