French health officials say a cruise ship passenger infected with hantavirus is battling a severe form of the disease.
A French passenger linked to the hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship is in intensive care in France after developing a severe cardiopulmonary form of the virus.
French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said the patient is in serious condition and receiving extracorporeal circulation treatment, a life-support system that provides artificial oxygenation while the lungs recover.
The minister explained that the virus severely affected the patient’s lungs and blood vessels. Doctors are using advanced medical support to stabilise the patient during the critical stage of treatment.
Four other French nationals evacuated from the cruise ship tested negative for hantavirus and are reportedly recovering well under medical observation.
French authorities have also identified 22 contact cases linked to flights connected to the evacuation process. Those individuals are being monitored, tested, and hospitalised where necessary.
The hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius has already resulted in multiple confirmed infections and deaths, although global health officials say the risk of a wider outbreak remains low.
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