A French woman infected in a hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship is critically ill with life-threatening lung and heart problems and is being treated with an artificial lung (ECMO) at Bichat Hospital in Paris as of May 13 [1, 2].
The outbreak on the cruise ship has reached 11 total reported cases, with 9 confirmed infections so far. Three people onboard have died, including a Dutch couple believed to have first contracted the virus in South America prior to the cruise [1, 2]. According to Dr. Xavier Lescure, the French patient is now in “the final stage of supportive care,” highlighting the severity of her condition [1].
The cruise ship completed evacuation of all passengers and many crew members on May 13 and has since begun sailing back to the Netherlands for thorough cleaning and disinfection to prevent further spread [2].
A Spanish passenger tested positive for hantavirus after evacuation and is currently quarantined in Madrid, marking the latest confirmed case linked to the MV Hondius outbreak [2].
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak. But of course the situation could change, and given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks” [2].
The outbreak was first detected on or before May 12, with multiple cases identified during the voyage and three deaths recorded by that time, including the Dutch couple [1, 2]. The French woman's hospitalization and ECMO treatment, the Spanish passenger's quarantine, and the ship's evacuation and return to port were all reported on May 13 [2].
The MV Hondius is scheduled to undergo a complete cleaning and disinfection process upon arrival in the Netherlands to address contamination risks [2].
