A second Spanish passenger from the MV Hondius cruise tested positive for hantavirus during a routine PCR test on Monday, May 13 [1, 2].

The case indicates a continuing health risk among repatriated travelers and tests the capacity of Spanish medical facilities to isolate rare viral infections.

The patient is currently isolated at the Hospital Central de la Defensa Gómez Ulla in Madrid [1, 2, 4]. The individual has been transferred to the Unidad de Aislamiento de Alto Nivel, known as UATAN, which is a high-level isolation unit, reports said [1].

This patient was one of 14 Spanish citizens repatriated from the MV Hondius [1]. The cruise ship arrived in Tenerife on May 10 [1]. All 14 passengers were subject to a quarantine protocol and routine testing to identify potential infections following an outbreak identified on the vessel [1, 2, 3].

There are now two confirmed cases of hantavirus among the group of Spanish passengers [2]. Reports on the patient's condition vary. One source said the patient is in good general condition and presents no symptoms [4]. However, another report said the patient has experienced a low-grade fever and slight desaturation [3].

Medical staff continue to monitor the situation at the Gómez Ulla facility. The use of the UATAN unit ensures that the patient is kept in a controlled environment to prevent further transmission while health officials determine the exact strain and severity of the virus [1].

“A second Spanish passenger from the MV Hondius cruise tested positive for hantavirus”

The identification of a second case among a small group of 14 repatriated passengers suggests a significant exposure rate on the MV Hondius. By utilizing the UATAN high-level isolation unit, Spanish health authorities are treating the situation with extreme caution to prevent a community outbreak, despite conflicting reports regarding the patient's current symptoms.