France confirms first hantavirus case from MV Hondius cruise ship

France has recorded its first confirmed hantavirus case in a passenger repatriated from the MV Hondius cruise ship, where an outbreak was detected, the health minister said Monday. The patient is a woman who was among five French nationals evacuated from the vessel and flown from Spain's Canary Islands to France on Sunday, Stephanie Rist told radio France Inter. She developed symptoms during the evacuation flight between Tenerife and France's Le Bourget airport near Paris.

Condition and testing

"Tests have come back positive for hantavirus," Rist said, adding that the patient's condition had "unfortunately deteriorated overnight." French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the woman had already shown symptoms during the repatriation flight, which landed on Sunday shortly before 4.30 pm local time.

Other passengers

The four other French nationals tested negative for the virus but will remain in isolation for at least 15 days, the health minister said, adding that authorities can extend isolation measures under existing regulations. Authorities have also identified 22 French nationals who were on earlier flights linked to the case cluster.

Outbreak background

The outbreak, involving the Andes strain of hantavirus, has so far resulted in five confirmed cases, including three deaths, among passengers connected to the MV Hondius voyage. Hantavirus is a rare disease usually transmitted through infected rodents or their droppings, though the Andes strain can also spread between humans.