Hantavirus Case Linked to Cruise Ship Outbreak in Spain

The Spanish government announced on Monday a newly confirmed case of hantavirus related to the cruise ship MV Hondius. This ship was at the center of an outbreak earlier this month that resulted in three fatalities.

A Spanish national, who had been in preventative quarantine at a Madrid hospital, tested positive for the virus, according to a statement from the Health Ministry. This new case involves a ‘close contact’ of an individual associated with the initial outbreak. The patient has been under clinical surveillance and isolation at Gómez Ulla Hospital.

The positive case was detected during routine testing of contacts tied to the outbreak. Upon confirmation of the virus, the patient was transferred to the high-level isolation unit at Gómez Ulla Hospital for specialized medical supervision.

“Hantavirus is endemic in parts of South America but remains very rare among humans and has never before been recorded on a cruise ship,” noted health officials.

Both global and U.S. health authorities have worked to assure the public that there is no wider outbreak. Despite the new case, the Spanish Health Ministry stated that there is no increased risk to the general population, nor changes to the current epidemiological response.

The incubation period for hantavirus extends up to six weeks. Since the outbreak was reported on May 2 to the World Health Organization, there have been no further deaths.

The MV Hondius disembarked 20 crew members and two medical staff in the Netherlands last week. Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed this ended the ship’s seven-week journey, spanning 8,500 miles, which encountered up to 11 infections and three deaths due to the rare disease. Passengers, including 18 Americans, are under quarantine in their respective home countries.