ALBAWABA- French health authorities have confirmed the country’s first hantavirus infection linked to an international outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, as officials move to trace and monitor dozens of potential contacts.
The infected patient, a French woman repatriated from the cruise ship, tested positive after developing symptoms during a flight to Paris on May 10. Her condition reportedly worsened overnight, leading to her transfer to a specialist infectious disease unit.
French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said the four other French nationals evacuated from the vessel initially tested negative but would undergo additional screening as a precaution.
Authorities have identified 22 close contacts across France, including passengers who shared flights with the affected travelers. Those individuals have been placed under monitoring and isolation protocols to prevent further spread.
The outbreak originated aboard the MV Hondius after the vessel departed Ushuaia, Argentina, in early April for an Atlantic expedition voyage. The World Health Organization was notified on May 2 following reports of severe respiratory illness among passengers and crew.
By May 8, health officials had recorded eight cases linked to the outbreak, including six laboratory-confirmed infections involving the Andes virus strain and three deaths. The ship was later quarantined off the Canary Islands before passengers were repatriated to several countries for medical observation and isolation.
Health experts say the Andes virus is a rare hantavirus strain capable of limited human-to-human transmission through prolonged close contact, unlike most hantaviruses, which are typically spread through exposure to infected rodent urine, saliva, or droppings.
Investigators are examining whether rodent exposure aboard the vessel may have triggered the outbreak, though the precise source has not yet been confirmed.
Hantavirus infections can lead to severe respiratory illness known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which often begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headaches, and muscle pain before rapidly progressing to breathing difficulties and lung complications.
There is currently no specific antiviral treatment for the disease, though intensive supportive care, including oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation, can improve survival rates. Severe cases can carry fatality rates of up to 40 percent.
