A French woman and an American national evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship have tested positive for hantavirus, as the complex repatriation operation continues. The French woman, one of five French passengers flown to Paris on Sunday, is in a serious condition and being treated in a specialised infectious diseases unit. The American, flown to Nebraska with 16 others, tested positive for the Andes strain but remains asymptomatic.
France's health minister, Stéphanie Rist, confirmed the woman's condition worsened overnight after she developed a fever on the evacuation flight. Rist told France Inter radio that tests came back positive and symptoms escalated. The US health department reported one asymptomatic case and another with mild symptoms among American evacuees.
Personnel in full protective gear have been escorting passengers from the ship in Tenerife, Canary Islands, with over 100 people of 23 nationalities evacuated in under 48 hours. Spanish authorities described the operation as complex and unprecedented. Passengers underwent health checks and temperature screenings before disembarkation.
The MV Hondius has been linked to three deaths – a Dutch couple and a German woman – and several other illnesses. The virus, typically transmitted by rodents, is endemic in Argentina, where the ship departed in April. No vaccines or specific treatments exist, but global health risk is considered low.
French authorities are tracking 22 nationals who may have been exposed, including those on flights from Saint Helena to Johannesburg and onward to Amsterdam. The Dutch victim was on the flight to Johannesburg. Officials urge vigilance without panic, and a 42-day isolation period has been recommended for contacts.
