health
Frenchman Evacuated from Cruise Ship with Hantavirus Outbreak Showed Symptoms During Repatriation Flight
The international alert over the hantavirus outbreak linked to the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius intensified again this Sunday after a French citizen evacuated from Tenerife presented symptoms compatible with the disease during the repatriation flight to France...
TL;DR
- A French passenger repatriated from the MV Hondius cruise ship presented symptoms compatible with hantavirus during an evacuation flight from Tenerife.
- Five French passengers from the cruise were placed in strict isolation for medical evaluation and testing.
- The MV Hondius cruise ship, with around 150 occupants, is under sanitary surveillance in Tenerife due to reported suspected hantavirus cases and at least three deaths.
- Disembarkation and biosecurity protocols are being coordinated by Spanish authorities, European bodies, and the WHO.
- Spanish passengers were the first to disembark and were transported to a military hospital for quarantine.
- The WHO director-general stated the operation is proceeding well and urged against disproportionate alarm, clarifying it is not another COVID-19.
- Hantavirus is generally transmitted through contact with infected rodents, with human-to-human transmission being extremely rare.
- Regional authorities in the Canary Islands expressed concern about the cruise ship's arrival and the risk to the population.
- The ship is anchored and will depart for the Netherlands on Monday evening if all proceeds as planned.