A Spanish traveler, recently evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship, has tested preliminary positive for hantavirus upon undergoing a PCR test at the Central Defense Hospital Gómez Ulla in Madrid, as confirmed by Spain's Ministry of Health on Monday.
The individual, a passenger and not part of the crew, is currently asymptomatic and in stable condition, according to the EFE news agency.
Meanwhile, 13 other Spanish passengers isolated at the same hospital tested negative, though they continue to remain under quarantine.
Following the provisional results, the patient was transferred to the High-Level Isolation and Treatment Unit (UATAN) on the hospital's 22nd floor, a facility equipped with negative pressure and stringent safety protocols.
A second PCR test is scheduled to be conducted in the coming hours, with analysis to be carried out at the National Center for Microbiology to confirm or refute the initial findings.
Health Authorities Respond to Preliminary Findings
Javier Padilla, the Secretary of State for Health, informed the SER network that medical staff promptly communicated the test result to the patient due to the need for transfer to a more secure isolation area.
"We are committed to providing the best possible care and treatment," stated Padilla, emphasizing the emotional impact on the individual, who is receiving psychological support along with the other isolated passengers.
Quarantine Protocols and Further Cases
Regarding the potential adjustment of quarantine duration for the remaining passengers, Padilla mentioned that an evaluation of the "zero day" of contact would occur on Tuesday, noting that theoretically, no new contact should have occurred in recent days.
The quarantine for the 14 Spanish citizens at Gómez Ulla began on May 6 and could extend up to 42 days, concluding on June 17.
Padilla further clarified that the personnel involved in evacuating the positive patient are not considered close contacts, given the rigorous safety measures in place during the operation.
This Spanish case is not the only positive result reported on Monday among those repatriated from the Hondius. France confirmed one positive case among its five returnees: a woman who developed symptoms during her return flight and is now in intensive care in Paris.
Among the 17 Americans evacuated from the cruise ship, one tested positive without symptoms, while another exhibited symptoms.
Background on the MV Hondius and Hantavirus Outbreak
The MV Hondius set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 with 88 passengers and 59 crew members from 23 different countries, embarking on a 46-day journey to Antarctica and the South Atlantic. The first death aboard was recorded on April 11; by May 2, the Andes virus was identified as the cause of the outbreak.
As of May 8, the World Health Organization reported a total of eight cases—six confirmed by PCR and two probable—along with three fatalities, marking this as the first documented hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship.
The Andes virus is uniquely capable among over 20 known hantavirus strains of human-to-human transmission, though this occurs only through close, prolonged contact, with a mortality rate of up to 50% in severe cases.
Understanding Hantavirus Outbreaks and Responses
What is the current status of the Spanish passenger who tested positive for hantavirus?
The Spanish passenger remains asymptomatic and in stable condition at the Central Defense Hospital Gómez Ulla in Madrid, awaiting confirmation of the preliminary hantavirus test results.
What measures are in place to prevent hantavirus transmission among the isolated passengers?
The isolated passengers are in quarantine with strict safety protocols in place, including negative pressure isolation units, to prevent potential transmission of hantavirus.
How was the hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius identified?
The outbreak was identified following the first recorded death on April 11 and subsequent PCR testing, which confirmed the Andes virus as the cause by May 2.