US and French nationals test positive for hantavirus after leaving ship

Key Points:

• Seven confirmed cases of hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship have been reported, with two suspected cases and three passenger deaths, including at least two confirmed virus-related fatalities, according to the WHO.
• Passengers from multiple countries, including the US, France, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, are being repatriated and isolated; some have tested positive, while others are under observation with no symptoms reported.
• The hantavirus strain involved is believed to be the Andes strain, which can be transmitted human-to-human, though officials emphasize the risk of a major outbreak remains very low.
• The MV Hondius is currently docked in Tenerife, Spain, with remaining passengers and crew undergoing repatriation efforts; health authorities are enforcing quarantine measures and clinical assessments.
• US and WHO officials have differed on response protocols, with the WHO recommending 42 days of isolation, while US CDC representatives downplayed the risk of human transmission to avoid public panic.