One of the French passengers on the hantavirus cruise ships has now reported symptoms, the French Prime Minister confirmed. The traveller exhibited symptoms of the virus while on a repatriation flight along with four other French people, all of whom are now in “strict isolation until further notice”.
Sébastien Lecornu wrote on X: “Five of our compatriots present on the MV Hondius, a hotbed of Hantavirus infection, have been repatriated to national territory. One of them exhibited symptoms on the repatriation flight. As a result, these five passengers were immediately placed in strict isolation until further notice.
“They are receiving medical care and will undergo testing and a full health assessment.
“Starting this evening, I will issue a decree to implement appropriate isolation measures for close contacts and to protect the general population. The Minister of Health will speak this evening.”
The MV Hondius, which has more than 140 passengers and crew on board, was directed to the Canary Islands by European health authorities and the World Health Organisation (WHO) after being refused port in Cape Verde.
So far, the outbreak has caused three deaths, and five passengers who had previously left the vessel have since been found to be infected with hantavirus.
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Spanish authorities, and cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions have all confirmed that no one currently on board the Hondius is displaying any symptoms of the virus.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska arrived on Tenerife on Saturday to help calm locals ahead and coordinate the disembarkation efforts.
Mr Ghebreyesus issued a direct statement to assure the people of Tenerife that “this is not another Covid”, and the public health risk of contracting hantavirus is still very low.
