All 22 French Nationals Who Had Contact with MV Hondius Passenger Now Hospitalized

French health authorities confirmed that every citizen who came in close contact with a Dutch passenger who died from the deadly Andes hantavirus aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius has now been admitted to hospital across France.

French health officials have confirmed that all 22 French nationals identified as having had close contact with a Dutch passenger from the cruise ship MV Hondius are now hospitalized. The Dutch passenger died after contracting the deadly hantavirus, which caused a serious outbreak aboard the vessel.

Elderly French Patient Remains in Critical Condition

An infectious disease specialist Xavier Lescure, working at a Paris hospital confirmed that an elderly French woman from the MV Hondius remains in critical condition. She is currently in intensive care and connected to a life-support machine. Her condition continues to be monitored closely by medical staff.

Where Are the 22 Hospitalized French Nationals?

Eight of the 22 French nationals traveled on the same flight as the Dutch passenger from the Netherlands to Johannesburg. Those eight are now hospitalized in Paris. The remaining 14 people who came in contact with the patient on the Johannesburg-to-Amsterdam flight are scattered across various cities in France. All 22 have been placed under medical supervision.

How the MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak Unfolded

The deadly hantavirus outbreak struck the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius while it sailed from Argentina toward Cabo Verde. Three people lost their lives during the voyage. The ship arrived at the Canary Islands on Sunday and all passengers were evacuated from the vessel. By Tuesday, the World Health Organization reported 11 confirmed cases of hantavirus disease. Nine of those cases were specifically identified as the Andes strain of the virus.

What Is Hantavirus and Why Is It Dangerous?

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that spread to humans through contact with infected rodents. The virus can trigger two serious conditions hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Both conditions can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. The Andes strain identified in the MV Hondius cases is particularly dangerous, as it is one of the few hantavirus strains known to spread between humans.