Spain Confirms New Hantavirus Case as Outbreak on MV Hondius Grows to 11
Spain’s health ministry announced Tuesday that a Spanish passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius has tested positive for hantavirus, bringing the total confirmed cases to 11 including three deaths. The World Health Organization stated there is no sign of a larger outbreak but warned more cases could emerge due to the virus’s long incubation period.
Abc NewsSpain’s health ministry announced Tuesday that a Spanish passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship has tested positive for hantavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases linked to the vessel to 11, including three deaths. The World Health Organization has verified all 11 cases occurred among passengers or crew of the MV Hondius.
Nine of those have been identified as the Andes strain of the virus.
The newly confirmed Spanish case involves a passenger now in quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid along with 13 other Spanish nationals who tested negative. The MV Hondius is sailing back to Rotterdam in the Netherlands after the completion of a coordinated evacuation of more than 120 passengers and crew members from Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.
The operation, which ended Monday night, involved personnel in full protective gear escorting people from the ship.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking at a news conference in Madrid, said the numbers have changed little over the past week. He added that there is no sign a larger outbreak is beginning but cautioned that more cases could appear given the virus’s incubation period.
