A coordinated international evacuation is underway after a cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak saw passengers repatriated across several countries, with one French evacuee developing symptoms during transfer, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has confirmed.
The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has already resulted in at least three deaths, including two confirmed cases of the virus, triggering a large-scale response involving multiple governments and health agencies.
According to Lecornu, a French national began showing symptoms while being flown from Tenerife to Paris, prompting authorities to place all five French evacuees in strict isolation upon arrival.
The group was transferred under medical supervision to Bichat Hospital after landing at Le Bourget Airport, where emergency teams in protective equipment met them on the tarmac.
French health authorities said the patients will undergo a 72-hour quarantine and full medical assessment before completing a 45-day self-isolation period.
Similar precautionary measures are being taken across Europe and beyond. Fourteen Spanish nationals have been placed under quarantine in Madrid, while British passengers have been repatriated to Manchester under monitoring by the UK Health Security Agency.
In the United States, health officials confirmed that one passenger developed mild symptoms and another tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus. Both were transported in specialised biocontainment units as a precaution.
Additional evacuation flights have been arranged for passengers from Turkey, Ireland, Australia, the Netherlands and other countries, with Spanish authorities confirming that more than 90 of the 150 passengers and crew are expected to have been repatriated by the end of Sunday.
The outbreak response, coordinated with the World Health Organization, followed the ship’s arrival off the Canary Islands, where medical teams boarded the vessel and began a phased evacuation.
Health experts believe the virus, typically spread by rodents, may in this case involve the Andes strain, which can be transmitted between humans in close contact. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, vomiting and breathing difficulties.
The crisis has reignited concerns about managing infectious disease outbreaks on cruise ships. Helen Clark, co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, warned that lessons from COVID-19 have not yet been fully implemented, particularly in early detection and global preparedness.
The first death linked to the outbreak was reported on 11 April, with subsequent fatalities occurring on 2 May and later during the voyage. Several passengers remain under treatment in the Netherlands, South Africa and other locations, while others are being monitored for potential exposure.
Once evacuation efforts are complete, the MV Hondius will continue its voyage to the Netherlands, where remaining biohazard procedures, including disinfection of personal belongings and the vessel, will be carried out.