French woman and American test positive for hantavirus as cruise ship outbreak prompts global evacuations
A French woman and an American passenger have tested positive for hantavirus as countries worldwide rush to evacuate and monitor travelers from a cruise ship linked to a deadly outbreak.
The MV Hondius, which anchored in the Canary Islands, became the center of an unprecedented response after health authorities confirmed it was the first known hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. Passengers began being flown home on military and government aircraft on Sunday, with evacuation efforts continuing into Monday. Travelers were escorted off the ship in Tenerife by crews wearing full-body protective suits and breathing masks.
So far, three passengers have died, and several others have been infected. Health officials continue to stress that the risk to the general public remains low despite the severity of the situation.
The French woman who tested positive had been among a group repatriated to France. Her condition worsened after arriving at a hospital, and officials said she began showing symptoms during her flight home. She was one of five French nationals evacuated from the ship.
In the United States, 17 passengers were flown to Nebraska, where one individual tested positive for the virus but is not currently showing symptoms. Another passenger is experiencing mild symptoms. Upon arrival, the group was transported under medical supervision for evaluation and monitoring at specialized quarantine and biocontainment facilities at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Health officials said some passengers will be closely observed in quarantine units while others undergo risk assessments to determine potential exposure. The Nebraska facility, which has previously treated patients during Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks, is handling part of the response effort.
Public health authorities have recommended strict monitoring of all exposed passengers, and several countries have already placed returning travelers under quarantine or medical observation. Additional evacuation flights from countries including Australia and the Netherlands are expected to continue transporting citizens home.
Experts note that hantavirus is typically spread through contact with rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between people, although the specific strain involved in this outbreak may allow limited human-to-human transmission in rare cases. Symptoms can take weeks to appear and often include fever, chills, and muscle aches.
Despite the outbreak, global health officials have urged calm, saying the risk to the broader public remains low and stressing that the situation is being carefully contained through coordinated international response efforts.
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