Spanish health authorities have confirmed another positive case of the rare hantavirus among the isolated Spanish passengers from the cruise ship “MV Hondius”. The affected individual has already been in quarantine for several days at the Gómez Ulla military hospital in Madrid and has now been transferred to a high-security isolation unit following a positive PCR test.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
This brings the number of confirmed hantavirus cases among the Spanish returnees to two. According to the Spanish Ministry of Health, the new patient has so far shown no symptoms. However, the authorities stress that the situation continues to be treated very seriously, as the virus can have an incubation period of up to six weeks.
Cruise Ship “MV Hondius” at the Centre of an International Health Alert
The current outbreak has been linked to the expedition cruise ship “MV Hondius”, which departed from Ushuaia in Argentina in early April on a voyage towards Antarctica and the South Atlantic. During the journey, several serious illnesses were reported on board. According to international reports so far, at least three people have died in connection with the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO), together with several countries, coordinated the evacuation and monitoring of around 150 passengers and crew members from a total of 23 nations. Spain organised a special repatriation operation via Tenerife for its citizens before those affected were transferred to Madrid.
Quarantine at Gómez Ulla Military Hospital
The 14 Spanish passengers have been under observation at the Gómez Ulla military hospital in Madrid since 10 May. A special isolation and monitoring protocol has been activated there. Most of those affected have so far remained symptom-free.
The first Spaniard to test positive – a 70-year-old man – temporarily showed mild respiratory symptoms and fever, but according to the Ministry of Health, he is now recovering. Several PCR tests have been carried out, while other passengers have continued to test negative.
A further close contact within the quarantine group has now tested positive for the virus. Spanish authorities have stressed that the new case was detected within the existing isolation measures and therefore poses no additional risk to the general public.
What is Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are generally transmitted by rodents. Humans usually become infected through contact with contaminated dust, urine, or droppings from infected animals. What makes this outbreak particularly unusual is that it appears to involve a variant of the so-called Andes virus, in which human-to-human transmission may also be possible under certain circumstances.
Typical symptoms include high fever, muscle and joint pain, breathing difficulties, circulatory problems, and in severe cases, lung or kidney failure.
The disease is considered extremely rare in Europe. However, experts stress that early isolation and close medical monitoring are crucial in order to prevent severe cases.
Spain Implements Strict Precautionary Measures
The Spanish government has firmly defended the extensive quarantine measures. While the WHO had in some cases proposed more flexible solutions, Spain opted for the centralised isolation of all affected citizens at the Gómez Ulla hospital.
According to the current plans, the passengers may be allowed to continue their isolation at home after 28 days of hospital quarantine. However, this will depend on further tests returning negative results and no symptoms developing.
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis. Experts currently do not believe there is any risk to the Spanish population, although they cannot rule out further isolated cases within the already identified contact groups.
