Spanish national tests positive for hantavirus after evacuating cruise ship

Hantavirus fear is growing every day after multiple individuals from different nationalities tested positive.

Recently a Spanish national in quarantine in a ‌Madrid military hospital, who is among those evacuated from a cruise ship earlier this month, has tested positive for hantavirus.

Spain's Health Ministry said on Monday it is the second positive case among the 14 Spanish nationals who were evacuated to the Spanish island of Tenerife from the luxury liner MV Hondius, which had been carrying around 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when a cluster ‌of severe respiratory illnesses was first reported to the World Health Organization on May 2.

After confirming the infection, the Spanish national has been taken to an isolation unit at the Gómez Ulla Hospital, the Health Ministry said on X. 

After confirming the infection, the Spanish national has been taken to an isolation unit at the Gómez Ulla Hospital, the Health Ministry said on X. 

It added that the fact that the case was detected among those already in quarantine "does not modify the risk situation" for the overall population.

The passengers were removed from the vessel following concerns about a possible outbreak on board, prompting health authorities to carry out medical screenings.

According to initial reports, those who tested positive are receiving medical care and are being monitored for symptoms associated with the virus, which can cause severe respiratory and flu like illness in some cases.

Moreover, health officials are continuing to trace possible exposure routes and assess whether additional passengers may have been affected during the voyage.