US health officials confirmed one American passenger has tested positive for hantavirus after evacuation from the MV Hondius cruise ship.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says one American passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship has tested PCR positive for hantavirus, while another passenger is currently showing mild symptoms linked to the virus.
According to HHS, both individuals were placed inside special biocontainment units during the evacuation flight to the United States “out of an abundance of caution.” The flight was carrying 18 passengers from the virus-hit cruise ship.
The passenger showing symptoms will first be taken to the ASPR Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center before being transferred to another specialist treatment facility. The second passenger, who tested positive but remains asymptomatic, will be transported directly to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit for further testing and monitoring.
US health officials said the infected passenger was separated from others during the flight through strict containment procedures. The remaining passengers will undergo assessment and quarantine at the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska.
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The hantavirus cruise ship outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has already resulted in three deaths and triggered international evacuation efforts involving passengers from several countries. Health authorities believe the outbreak may be linked to exposure during the ship’s South American voyage.
Officials continue to stress that the public health risk remains low, but monitoring and quarantine operations are ongoing as countries work to contain the hantavirus outbreak.