Spain’s Health Ministry has confirmed a new case of hantavirus in a passenger evacuated from a cruise ship linked to an ongoing outbreak, as international health authorities continue monitoring the situation closely.
The infected man is among more than 120 passengers and crew members removed from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, which has been at the centre of a rare and deadly outbreak that has already caused several deaths.
Health officials say the patient is currently stable, showing mild symptoms including low-grade fever and respiratory issues. He is part of a group being monitored in quarantine, while others who were evacuated have mostly tested negative so far.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a total of 11 cases linked to the ship, including three deaths. Most infections involve the rare Andes strain of hantavirus, which is typically spread by rodents but can also transmit between humans and has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Authorities in Spain, France, and the Netherlands have imposed strict isolation measures, including a 42-day quarantine recommendation for returning passengers, due to the virus’s long incubation period.
While the WHO says there is currently no evidence of a wider outbreak, officials warn that new cases could still emerge in the coming weeks as monitoring continues.
The cruise ship is now heading back to the Netherlands for full disinfection, while hospitals across Europe remain on alert after several evacuees required intensive care and precautionary quarantines were imposed on medical staff exposed during testing procedures.
Health experts say this is the first recorded hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, highlighting concerns over how quickly such infections can spread in closed environments.
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