One American tests positive for hantavirus as cruise ship passengers arrive in U.S.
A group of American passengers evacuated from the virus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius has arrived in the United States after a deadly hantavirus outbreak onboard, with one traveler testing positive for the rare infection and another showing mild symptoms, health officials confirmed.
The Americans were among passengers repatriated after the expedition cruise ship docked in Tenerife, Spain’s Canary Islands, following reports of multiple infections and deaths linked to the Andes strain of hantavirus. The outbreak has already claimed at least three lives and led to several confirmed and suspected cases among international passengers.
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U.S. authorities said 17 American citizens and one dual U.S.-British national were flown to specialized medical facilities for quarantine and monitoring. One passenger who tested “mildly PCR positive” for the Andes virus was transferred to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, although officials said the individual is not currently showing symptoms. Another passenger with mild symptoms was taken to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta for observation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are closely monitoring the situation. Officials stressed that hantavirus is not easily transmitted between people, though the Andes strain has shown limited human-to-human spread in rare cases. Experts said the overall public risk remains low.
Passengers from more than 20 countries were evacuated from the ship under strict biosecurity measures, with many wearing protective suits during transport. Those exposed are expected to remain under health monitoring for up to 42 days, the typical incubation period for hantavirus symptoms.
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