Spanish Citizen Tests Positive for Hantavirus After Evacuation from MV Hondius Cruise Ship
A Spanish citizen who was previously evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship and is currently isolating in Madrid has tested positive for hantavirus. This marks another case in a series of infections linked to an outbreak that occurred on the ship, which had departed Argentina in early April.
The patient is one of 14 Spaniards who were aboard the vessel during the outbreak. The virus, typically spread through rodent droppings, claimed three lives during the incident. Since leaving the ship, passengers have been evacuated to their home countries. So far, there have been 12 confirmed cases among these former passengers, all of whom are required to remain in isolation for 42 days, as symptoms can take that long to appear.
The latest positive case in Spain was identified as a ‘close contact’ of someone who had become ill during the initial outbreak on the ship. The patient’s personal information has been withheld for privacy reasons. They have been in isolation at Gómez Ulla Hospital since May 10. According to the Spanish health ministry, the infection was confirmed during routine periodic testing.
Spanish health officials have not released details about the patient’s symptoms, but hantavirus typically causes severe respiratory distress or, in some strains, kidney failure. Officials have stated that the latest case does not increase the risk for the general public or alter current public health measures, as the patient was already within the country’s isolation system.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring 41 Americans who may have been exposed to hantavirus. This includes quarantined passengers in Nebraska and Georgia, those who returned home before the outbreak was identified, and individuals potentially exposed to a symptomatic case on a flight.
Health officials have confirmed that no infections tied to the cruise ship have been reported in the US. The confirmed case in Spain is the second positive test among the Spanish group evacuated from the MV Hondius.
Infectious disease experts note that passengers who were on board as recently as early May remain within the virus’s incubation window, which averages about three weeks but can extend to six weeks. For now, Spanish officials say the situation remains contained.
The patient at Gómez Ulla Hospital is receiving appropriate care, which can include close monitoring in a high-level isolation unit, respiratory support such as oxygen or a ventilator if needed, and potential use of ECMO for severe heart or lung failure.
Origins of the Outbreak
The first signs of the deadly hantavirus emerged on April 6, when a Dutch man fell ill on board the ship. He died five days later. His body was not removed until April 24, when the vessel docked on St Helena Island. That’s when his wife also got off and she flew to South Africa the next day, where she later died.
In the weeks that followed, 18 Americans were among those evacuated from the ship. They are now in federal quarantine. In total, three passengers have died from the virus: the Dutch man, his wife, and a German woman who died on board May 2.
Health officials believe the outbreak traces back to two passengers who may have picked up the virus during a birdwatching tour at a landfill in Argentina. The outbreak is believed to be one of the rare instances in which the virus may have spread from person to person. This strain is known as the Andes virus.
Understanding Different Strains of Hantavirus
Different strains of hantavirus exist worldwide, and they cause different types of illness depending on the region. In South America, the Andes virus is the most concerning strain because it is the only one known to spread from person to person. It causes a severe lung disease called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).
In North America, the most common strain is Sin Nombre virus, which is carried by deer mice. Unlike the Andes strain, it does not typically pass between humans, though it also causes serious respiratory illness.
In Europe and Asia, the ‘Old World’ strains, including Hantaan, Puumala and Seoul viruses, behave differently. Instead of attacking the lungs, these strains tend to cause a kidney disease known as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).
While all hantaviruses can be dangerous, the South American Andes strain poses a unique public health challenge because it can spread from person to person, which is why the outbreak on the cruise ship has drawn such intense global attention.
According to the CDC: ‘This outbreak is evolving rapidly and the situation will continue to change.’ But the agency added: ‘The risk of a pandemic caused by this outbreak and the overall risk to the American public and travelers is extremely low.’
