A Spanish passenger evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius has tested positive for hantavirus. Spain’s Ministry of Health confirmed the case on Monday. The patient has been isolating at the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital in Madrid since May 10.
The infected passenger was one of 14 Spaniards aboard the ship. Health officials identified the person as a close contact during outbreak monitoring. Doctors later transferred the patient to the hospital’s High-Level Isolation Unit for specialized care.
Countries Continue Monitoring Exposed Passengers
This is the second Spanish passenger from the MV Hondius to test positive. Spanish authorities said the case does not increase the risk to the general public. Officials also confirmed that current safety measures remain unchanged.
Several countries are tracing passengers and crew linked to the outbreak. Three passengers died after the ship left Argentina in April. Some passengers left the ship on Saint Helena Island in late April. Others disembarked in Spain’s Canary Islands before returning home. Crew members later left the vessel in the Netherlands.
Experts Warn More Cases Could Appear
Health experts say more infections may appear in the coming weeks. Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist from the University of Toronto, said passengers are still within the incubation period.
The virus usually takes about three weeks to cause symptoms. In some cases, symptoms may appear after six weeks. Because of this, many countries are monitoring passengers for 42 days after leaving the ship.
Hantavirus usually spreads through contact with rodents. However, the World Health Organization believes human-to-human transmission may have happened aboard the MV Hondius. The disease often begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, chills, and body aches. Severe cases can damage the lungs, heart, or kidneys. Some patients may suffer breathing problems, organ failure, or death.
