American Passengers Repatriated from Hantavirus-Stricken Cruise Ship

Passengers from the m/v Hondius, a cruise ship affected by hantavirus in the Atlantic, have been repatriated to the U.S. after disembarking in the Canary Islands. Among those, one individual tested “mildly PCR positive” for the virus, while another exhibited symptoms.

The ship docked in Spain on Sunday, allowing passengers to board flights organized by their home countries. Reports indicated that the American passengers landed in the United States at 2:30 a.m. ET on Monday.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated that 17 U.S. passengers on the flight would be taken to a specialized treatment center in Omaha, Nebraska. Notably, two passengers were placed in biocontainment units for safety. The symptomatic individual will be transferred to another location for care.

According to HHS, “One passenger currently has mild symptoms and another passenger tested mildly PCR positive for the Andes virus.” It added that each person would receive a clinical assessment upon arrival at the facility.

Kayla Thomas, a spokesperson for Nebraska Medicine, mentioned that the individual who tested positive does not currently show symptoms, as reported by the Associated Press.

Since departing from Argentina in early April, the ship has seen three fatalities, including a Dutch couple and a German national, alongside several illnesses among passengers.

Additionally, five French citizens were flown back to France and placed under strict isolation for medical observation. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu noted that one of the repatriated individuals showed symptoms during the flight.

Lecornu stated, “Starting this evening, I will issue a decree to implement appropriate isolation measures for close contacts and to protect the general population.”

The hantavirus typically spreads through contact with rodent droppings, but the Andes strain involved in this outbreak is known to transmit between humans. Health officials have, however, reassured the public that the risk remains low.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres remarked, “While the current public health risk from the virus remains low, it’s important that international efforts ensure the safety of all, including passengers and crew of the MV Hondius.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that symptoms could arise any time between four and 42 days following exposure and warned that hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) can be fatal.

The CDC highlighted, “38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease.”

While no specific treatment exists, prompt supportive care can be beneficial, including rest and hydration. The CDC noted that the virus primarily spreads through close contact with infected individuals, aligning with sentiments from Canada’s Public Health Agency, which suggested a minimal risk to the general public.

They noted, “Given that close, prolonged contact is required for person-to-person spread of ANDV, making onward spread unlikely.”

In a recent interview, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, NIH Director and CDC’s Acting Director, reassured that the hantavirus situation is not as concerning as COVID-19 and that the CDC is closely monitoring the outbreak.

Correction: ‘mildly positive’ changed to ‘mildly PCR positive’.