What is the story about?
Three passengers, including a French woman and two Americans, have tested positive or exhibited symptoms of hantavirus after being evacuated from the MV
Hondius cruise ship. The incidents occurred on Monday as global efforts intensified to repatriate passengers amid concerns of an outbreak. The ship, which had been anchored in the Canary Islands, began evacuating passengers on Sunday, with military and government aircraft transporting individuals from over 20 countries. Medical personnel in protective gear facilitated the transfer from ship to shore in Tenerife, a process that continued into Monday.
Health Status of Evacuated Passengers
The French woman, who tested positive for hantavirus, experienced a deterioration in her condition overnight while hospitalized, according to French Health Minister Stephanie Rist. She was among five French passengers repatriated to Paris, having developed symptoms during the flight.Among the 17 American passengers evacuated to Nebraska, one tested positive for the hantavirus without showing symptoms, while another exhibited mild symptoms. U.S. health officials confirmed that the flight landed early Monday morning, where the passengers were met by police and awaiting buses.
Medical Response and Monitoring
The Americans will be assessed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which features a federally funded quarantine facility. Health officials will determine their potential exposure to symptomatic individuals and evaluate their risk of spreading the virus.Kayla Thomas, a spokesperson for Nebraska Medicine, stated, “One passenger will be transported to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit upon arrival, while other passengers will go to the National Quarantine Unit for assessment and monitoring.” The medical facility has previously treated highly infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and Ebola.
Global Health Recommendations
The World Health Organization has advised rigorous monitoring of the former passengers, as many countries have implemented quarantine measures. Officials from the Spanish Health Ministry, the WHO, and the cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions had previously reported no symptoms among the more than 140 people remaining on the Hondius.As part of the evacuation effort, personnel in full-body protective gear transported passengers from the ship to shore. Countries, including Australia, are also arranging flights to repatriate their citizens, with Spain's Health Minister indicating that the Australian flight would be among the last to depart Tenerife.
Public Health Perspective
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reassured the public, stating, “This is not another COVID. And the risk to the public is low. So they shouldn’t be scared, and they shouldn’t panic.” Hantavirus typically spreads through rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between humans, although the Andes virus involved in this outbreak may present rare cases of human-to-human transmission.Maria van Kerkhove, WHO’s top epidemiologist, emphasized the importance of active monitoring and follow-up for passengers, recommending daily health checks either at home or in specialized facilities. Many nations are expected to quarantine or hospitalize their returning citizens for observation.
