Two more cruise ship passengers test positive for hantavirus outbreak

Two more passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship have tested positive for hantavirus as countries continue repatriating travellers following the deadly outbreak onboard.

French health authorities confirmed that a French woman who travelled on the ship tested positive for the virus and that her condition had worsened. French officials have also identified 22 contact cases, while four other passengers tested negative.

An American passenger on a repatriation flight also tested “mildly positive” for the virus, according to US health officials. Another American passenger developed mild symptoms and both individuals were transported using special biocontainment measures as a precaution.

The latest infections bring the total number of confirmed cases linked to the outbreak to 10.

WHO monitoring outbreak

The World Health Organization has confirmed two deaths and one probable death connected to the outbreak. Several passengers remain hospitalised, including one patient receiving intensive care treatment in South Africa.

The MV Hondius has been anchored near Tenerife in the Canary Islands after the outbreak disrupted the luxury cruise voyage. Authorities across several countries are tracing passengers who may have come into contact with infected travellers before the outbreak was fully identified.

Investigations into the source of the virus remain ongoing.

Passengers continue evacuation process

Spanish officials said the evacuation of passengers from the ship would continue with flights to Australia and the Netherlands.

A flight to Australia is expected to transport six passengers from Tenerife, while another flight to the Netherlands will carry 18 passengers. Additional travellers from other countries are also expected to join the evacuation flights.

Hantavirus is commonly spread through exposure to rodents, though rare human-to-human transmission has been recorded with the Andes strain involved in this outbreak.

Symptoms can appear weeks after exposure and may include fever, headaches, stomach problems and severe respiratory illness.

Health experts have urged calm despite the outbreak, stressing that hantavirus is far less contagious than COVID-19. The WHO has recommended a 42-day quarantine period for passengers from the ship.