The Spanish Ministry of Health has verified a new positive case of hantavirus among 14 Spaniards who were on the cruise ship MV Hondius during an outbreak in April. These individuals were evacuated from Tenerife to Madrid’s Gomez Ulla Central Defence Hospital on May 10 and have been in preventive quarantine since. The latest case was identified through routine PCR testing within the existing isolation and control system.
The asymptomatic patient has been moved to the hospital’s High-Level Isolation Unit (UATAN) for specialized medical observation and strict biosafety protocols. The ministry clarified that this new case does not change the risk level for the general population or the current epidemiological response measures. This marks the second Spaniard to test positive upon arrival in Madrid, with the first patient reportedly recovering well after displaying symptoms.
Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that typically infect rodents and sporadically spread to humans, causing severe illnesses and sometimes fatalities. The diseases vary by virus type and location, with the Americas known for hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) affecting the lungs and heart, and Europe and Asia for haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) impacting the kidneys and blood vessels. Although there is no specific cure for hantavirus diseases, early supportive medical care is crucial for survival, focusing on managing respiratory, cardiac, and kidney complications.
