A French woman, who was on the Hantavirus-affected cruise ship MV Hondius, tested positive for the Andes hantavirus upon returning to France, as confirmed by French Health Minister Stephanie Rist. She was one of five French nationals evacuated from the ship and repatriated to France, with symptoms emerging during the return flight. The woman’s condition deteriorated, leading to her transfer to a specialized infectious disease hospital for treatment.
The Health Minister disclosed that 22 individuals in France, identified as close contacts of hantavirus cases, were instructed to isolate. Earlier, five French nationals from the MV Hondius cruise ship had returned to France, with one passenger showing symptoms during the repatriation flight, according to French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu. The passengers arrived in France on a medical evacuation flight and were promptly placed under strict isolation for further evaluation and care.
Lecornu mentioned that the passengers were undergoing medical assessments and tests, with plans for a decree to enforce appropriate isolation measures for close contacts to safeguard the public. Hantaviruses, as per the World Health Organization, are zoonotic viruses primarily found in rodents, occasionally transmitted to humans, causing severe illnesses that can be fatal. The diseases vary by virus type and geographical location, with different impacts in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Prevention and early supportive medical care are crucial for hantavirus infections, focusing on managing respiratory, cardiac, and kidney complications. The transmission to humans usually occurs through contact with contaminated rodent excreta or saliva, with activities like cleaning enclosed spaces or working in rodent-infested areas increasing the risk.
