THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - A Spanish passenger who was evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which is at the center of a hantavirus outbreak, has tested positive for the virus, Spain's health ministry announced on Tuesday. The World Health Organization has confirmed 11 cases linked to the ship, including three people who died.
New Confirmed Case in Madrid
The passenger with the newly confirmed case of hantavirus is currently in quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid. This individual was evacuated from the MV Hondius along with 13 other Spanish nationals on Sunday. All of the other evacuees have tested negative for the virus.
WHO Confirms Andes Virus
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking in Madrid, stated that all 11 confirmed cases are among passengers or crew of the MV Hondius cruise ship. Among these, nine cases have been confirmed as the Andes virus, a strain of hantavirus. The outbreak has resulted in three fatalities.
Ongoing Monitoring
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely. The Spanish government has implemented quarantine measures for all evacuated individuals to prevent further spread. The MV Hondius remains under investigation as officials work to trace the source of the outbreak.
