The global effort to repatriate passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship has faced new challenges as three more travelers tested positive or exhibited symptoms of hantavirus this week.
Following the vessel's anchoring in the Canary Islands, passengers from over 20 countries began flying home via military and government aircraft on Sunday. The evacuation process in Tenerife was marked by high-security health protocols, with personnel in full-body protective gear and breathing masks escorting travelers from the ship to the shore to prevent further transmission.
Among those repatriated, a French woman who was flown to Paris has seen her health worsen overnight, according to French Health Minister Stephanie Rist. She was one of five French nationals evacuated from the vessel and developed symptoms during her flight.
In the United States, health officials reported that among 17 American passengers flown to Nebraska, one has tested positive for the hantavirus despite remaining asymptomatic, while another is experiencing mild symptoms. These passengers are being managed by the University of Nebraska Medical Center, utilizing its specialized National Quarantine Unit and Biocontainment Unit—facilities that have previously handled highly infectious diseases, including Ebola and COVID-19.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended rigorous monitoring of all former passengers, prompting many nations to implement strict quarantine and isolation measures. While the Spanish Health Ministry, the WHO, and cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions previously indicated that none of the 140 passengers on board were symptomatic, the recent findings highlight the volatility of the outbreak.
To date, the outbreak has claimed three lives, and five individuals who departed the ship earlier were also found to be infected. As the repatriation effort continues, international health authorities remain on high alert to contain the spread of the virus.
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Three more passengers test positive or have symptoms of hantavirus
cgtn.com
