A French citizen, recently evacuated from a cruise ship plagued by hantavirus, has started exhibiting symptoms of the disease, officials announced on Sunday. The ship had already seen three passengers succumb to this rat-borne virus.
The individual in question, whose identity remains undisclosed, showed signs of the illness while being transported to a Paris hospital, accompanied by four others. Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu confirmed this development in a public statement.
Consequently, all five citizens have been isolated as a precaution, according to the Prime Minister’s announcement. Their symptoms emerged during a flight from Tenerife to Paris, raising concerns about a potential broader outbreak. This comes as over 20 countries are working to bring their citizens home from the MV Hondius, where the hantavirus outbreak began.
On Sunday, more than 90 tourists were returned to their respective countries from the Dutch cruise ship, under the careful watch of emergency workers clad in hazmat suits.
Similar protective gear was visible at France’s Le Bourget Airport, where the five French evacuees arrived early Sunday morning, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the measures being taken to prevent further spread of the virus.
Professionals wearing similar full-body protective equipment were seen at France’s Le Bourget Airport when the five nationals landed early Sunday.
The five French citizens were loaded onto ambulances and taken to Paris’ Bichat hospital, where they will be under quarantine for three days and given a full assessment, according to France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
After the quarantine period, the French cruise passengers will be sent home to self-isolate for a total of 45 days, the ministry added.
There were also 17 Americans among the evacuated heading home for evaluation. The US nationals are bound for the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The World Health Organization has recommended a 42-day isolation period for the passengers of the ill-fated vessel, with the outbreak leading to the deaths of three people so far.
Five others from the ill-fated cruise, not counting the French national, have become seriously sick with the hantavirus, which has a 38% fatality rate.
Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya downplayed fears that the isolated outbreak would result in a COVID-19-like pandemic, noting that previous outbreaks of hantavirus have been successfully contained in the past.
