A French woman, who traveled aboard the Hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius, tested positive for the Andes Hantavirus during her return to France. French Health Minister Stephanie Rist confirmed this today.
The woman was among five French nationals evacuated from the cruise ship and repatriated to France yesterday, developing symptoms during the repatriation flight. Rist said the woman’s condition worsened overnight, and she was transferred to a specialised infectious disease hospital for treatment.
The minister also announced that 22 close contacts of Hantavirus cases had been identified in France and ordered to isolate. Earlier, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu had said the five French passengers arrived in France yesterday afternoon aboard a medical evacuation flight.
They were immediately placed under strict isolation until further notice. He added that they were receiving medical care and would undergo tests and health assessments.
According to the World Health Organization, Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans.