The Hague — Spanish health authorities reported that a passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship has tested positive for hantavirus, the health ministry said Tuesday. The patient is being treated in quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid.
The World Health Organization has confirmed a total of 11 cases linked to the outbreak on the MV Hondius, including three deaths among passengers or crew. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking in Madrid, said all confirmed infections are connected to the cruise ship.
Of the 11 confirmed cases, nine have been identified as caused by the Andes virus, a hantavirus strain known to spread among humans in some settings. The newly confirmed Spanish case was among evacuees brought ashore and placed under observation.
Thirteen other Spanish nationals evacuated on Sunday and housed at the same military facility tested negative for the virus, officials said. Authorities continue monitoring contacts and coordinating with international health agencies as investigations proceed.
