NAIROBI, Kenya- One of the 17 American passengers evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius in Spain’s Canary Islands has tested positive for hantavirus, although the individual is not showing any symptoms, U.S. health officials have confirmed.
The passenger was among a group of Americans repatriated after a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the expedition cruise ship, which has already claimed three lives and infected several others from different countries.
According to U.S. authorities, another American passenger also developed mild symptoms during the evacuation flight back to the United States.
Both travellers were transported in specialized biocontainment units as a precaution.
The Americans disembarked in Tenerife before boarding a government-arranged medical repatriation flight bound for Nebraska, where they are expected to undergo monitoring and medical assessment at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Health officials stressed that the risk to the general public remains low.
Hantavirus is primarily spread through exposure to infected rodents, though the Andes strain linked to the outbreak can, in rare cases, spread between humans through prolonged close contact.
The World Health Organization said at least eight people connected to the ship have fallen ill, with six confirmed infections reported so far. The victims include a Dutch couple and a German national.
Passengers from several countries, including the United States, Canada, France, Britain and the Netherlands, have been evacuated and placed under monitoring or quarantine measures.
The MV Hondius is now expected to head to Rotterdam for disinfection operations.
