France and the Netherlands report all close contacts of hantavirus cases on MV Hondius have tested negative. Health authorities monitor remaining individuals for precaution.
France's health minister announced Thursday that all 26 identified as close contacts of hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship had tested negative for the illness. This news comes after Dutch authorities confirmed that all people who arrived in the Netherlands on evacuation flights from the ship this week have also tested negative.
Twenty-six individuals are currently in hospital isolation in France, including 22 identified as close contacts of a Dutch woman on the MV Hondius. The woman was taken off the flight and died in a South African hospital after testing positive for hantavirus. French doctors are monitoring four others who were on the ship, while one passenger tested positive for hantavirus and is currently in serious condition at a French hospital.
Health Minister Stephanie Rist stated, "As of today, all close contacts of a person who tested positive for hantavirus present in France have tested negative, without exception." The 26 individuals will be tested three times a week as a precautionary measure to ensure their continued health status.
The European Union has announced plans to step up the exchange of information between its member states to better combat hantavirus. French officials called for "closer coordination" on EU health protocols, emphasizing the need for enhanced cooperation in managing such public health emergencies.
Globally, three people from the MV Hondius have died, six are confirmed to have hantavirus, and there is one probable case. Health authorities have reassured the public that the risk to the wider population remains low. The outbreak has affected 11 individuals so far, with Spain reporting a new suspected case linked to contact with the victim.
The MV Hondius incident highlights the importance of thorough health screenings for close contacts in managing hantavirus outbreaks and underscores the need for international collaboration in public health response efforts.
