Hantavirus: New cases of hantavirus detected in the US and France. An American and a French national have returned to their homes after staying on a ship which was hit by the deadly Hantavirus and tested positive. authorities say. The US department on Monday said a second American national had also shown mild symptoms, adding that both passengers had travelled back in “biocontainment units out of an abundance of caution”.
French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist stated a woman isolating in Paris and her health were constantly deteriorating, with 22 contact cases traced so far. Over 90 passengers of the MV Hondius ship is currently docked in Spain’s Canary Islands.
After travelling to the vessel, three deaths have been reported – two of them are confirmed to have had the virus. Deaths include one Dutch couple and a German woman.
WHO believes hantavirus is usually carried by rodents, but human transmission contracted by some of the Dutch ship’s passengers while in South America is possible.
Symptoms can include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and shortness of breath.Officials say the risk of a major outbreak is very low.
The evacuation of the MV Hondius reached a critical phase on Monday as dozens of passengers from the hantavirus-hit vessel were flown to their home countries under high-security medical protocols.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed early Monday that 17 American citizens and one British national residing in the U.S. are being transported to a specialized medical facility in Nebraska for “clinical assessment.” Seven other Americans who previously disembarked are already under monitoring in their respective home states.
Hantavirus: A Global Repatriation Effort
The port of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife has been transformed into a sterile transit zone. Passengers were seen disembarking in full biohazard gear, including blue gowns and respirators, before being ushered onto sealed buses.
| Country | Evacuation Status | Quarantine Protocol |
| United Kingdom | 20 nationals returned to Manchester | 72 hours at Arrowe Park Hospital; 45 days at home |
| Spain | 14 nationals returned to Madrid | Mandatory quarantine at a military hospital |
| Netherlands | 26 passengers/crew arrived Sunday | 42-day self-quarantine |
| United States | 17 nationals arriving Monday | Clinical assessment at Nebraska facility |
| Ukraine | 4 crew members remaining on board | Quarantine upon arrival in the Netherlands |
Current Health Toll
As of May 11, the outbreak has resulted in three deaths. Two British nationals with confirmed cases are currently receiving intensive treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa.
While the majority of the 147 people on board remain asymptomatic, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reported that one French national began showing symptoms during a flight home on Sunday. Australian officials are expected to conduct the final evacuation flight later this afternoon, carrying the remaining six Australian passengers and others whose home countries did not send dedicated aircraft.
Also Read: Hantavirus Panic: The Deadly Rodent Virus Spreading Fear Worldwide
