Spain’s health ministry reports a new hantavirus infection in a Spanish passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius, the cruise ship at the centre of an outbreak. The patient is placed in isolation at a military hospital in Madrid, where tests confirm the infection; reporting also indicates the person has not been suffering symptoms at the time of announcement. Spain had evacuated more than a dozen Spanish nationals from the ship and says other evacuated passengers tested negative for the virus at the time of testing.
International health authorities confirm the outbreak size is expanding. The World Health Organization (WHO) states it has confirmed multiple cases linked to the MV Hondius, with totals reported as rising to 11 in some coverage. Several sources also report that three people associated with the cruise have died. Additional evacuated passengers—beyond those with reported positive tests—continue to be monitored in quarantine as authorities conduct further testing.
No cure or vaccine for hantavirus is described in the reports, and authorities emphasize detection, monitoring, and timely medical care.
