Hantavirus reaches Europe with first affected person who wasn’t on doomed cruise struck down

A French national who was not on the MV Hondius cruise ship has reportedly contracted hantavirus after taking a flight with an infected passenger, marking the first case in Europe not linked to the cruise

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A French citizen, who was not a passenger on the rat virus-infected cruise ship has reportedly contracted hantavirus. It comes after they shared a flight with an infected individual.

This marks the first instance of the lethal disease in someone who was not aboard the MV Hondius, as hantavirus makes its way to Europe. The news follows the medical evacuation of a Brit and two others from the doomed vessel.

Additionally, a hantavirus patient who travelled on the MV Hondius is currently receiving treatment in Zurich, Switzerland. The Swiss Health Ministry confirmed the case, stating that University Hospital Zurich is “prepared to deal with such cases, is able to care for the patient, and guarantee the safety of staff and all patients”.

It emphasised that “there is currently no risk to the Swiss public”. Alongside the Swiss case, three patients were airlifted from the MV Hondius to the Netherlands, the Sun reports.

Among those evacuated was a British crew member, believed to be a doctor who contracted the virus while treating patients. The other two patients medically evacuated to the Netherlands include a Dutch crew member and a German passenger.

Oceanwide Expeditions revealed that two of the patients, who were flown off the ship by specialist aircraft, were suffering acute symptoms, and the third was “closely associated” with the passenger who passed away on 2 May.

WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “Three suspected hantavirus case patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands.

“WHO continues to work with the ship’s operators to closely monitor the health of passengers and crew, working with countries to support appropriate medical follow-up and evacuation where needed.”

Concerns are also mounting that passengers who travelled on the same flight as an infected woman could become super spreaders.

Officials are frantically attempting to track down contacts of a 69-year-old Dutch woman who left the MV Hondius on one of the planet’s most isolated islands.

The woman, whose husband was among the passengers who died from hantavirus, departed the vessel in St Helena displaying “gastrointestinal symptoms” on April 24.

She subsequently travelled to Johannesburg on April 25, where she succumbed to the deadly virus.

Specialists have cautioned that the Andes strain of hantavirus caught by passengers is prone to “super-spreader” incidents.

The regional chief of the Canary Islands declared this morning he “cannot allow” the contaminated vessel to enter his waters, as the quarantined cruise ship races towards Spain.

Fernando Clavijo stated he lacked sufficient details “to reassure the public or guarantee their safety” should the infected vessel dock in the Canaries.

The Spanish Health Ministry confirmed yesterday that it will welcome the virus-stricken ship in the Canary Islands “in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles”.

The MV Hondius is anticipated to arrive at the port of Santa Cruz in Tenerife within three or four days. Three passengers aboard the vessel have perished from hantavirus, triggering worldwide alarm.

A Spanish Health Ministry statement declared the islands represent the “closest location with the necessary capabilities” to care for those aboard the stricken cruise liner.

It continued: “Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist these people, among whom are also several Spanish citizens.”

However, regional chief Fernando Clavijo condemned the Spanish Government’s decision to aid passengers of the MV Hondius.

He argued: “This decision is not based on any technical criteria, nor is there sufficient ⁠information to reassure ⁠the public or guarantee their safety.”

Staff and tourists will undergo medical examinations before being transported back to their respective nations.

Canary Islands spokesman Alfonso Cabello informed Spanish broadcaster Telecinco: “We can’t understand why there’s been a change in the strategy that had been adopted without us being told.

“If the situation on the ship is one of relative calm which appears to be the case, why are passengers and crew going to be subjected to three of four more days at sea so they can reach the Canary Islands.

“Why not evacuate them directly via the international airport in Cape Verde?

“We are talking about a virus that, according to the specialists we have heard, seems to pose no risk between humans but other specialists are not saying the same. We do not exactly know what strain it is, whether it has mutated or not.

“I believe that this lack of information is creating a certain state of nervousness among professionals themselves and the population.”

Meanwhile, a 69 year old British man is battling for his life in a South African hospital.

The location of a critically ill British doctor, who was due to be airlifted from a cruise ship, remains unknown this morning.