Evacuated MV Hondius passengers return home: new hantavirus case identified

Passengers of the cruise ship MV Hondius, evacuated following a hantavirus outbreak, have begun returning to their home countries on military and government aircraft. The vessel previously arrived at the island of Tenerife, where a large-scale international operation was organized for the safe disembarkation of passengers and crew.

According to American medical services, one of the 17 U.S. citizens on board the liner tested positive for hantavirus. However, the passenger does not yet exhibit any symptoms of the disease. The Americans will be transported to a specialized quarantine center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where specialists will assess the risk of infection and potential contact with infected individuals.

Meanwhile, French authorities reported that one of five French passengers experienced symptoms of the disease during the return flight home. By government order, all passengers have been placed under strict quarantine and will undergo additional testing.

Earlier, representatives of the Spanish Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, and the cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions stated that no symptoms of the virus were identified among more than 140 people on board. Despite this, international services continue to monitor the situation closely, fearing the further spread of the rare infection strain.

The operation for the evacuation and repatriation of passengers continues under enhanced sanitary measures and the coordination of several countries.