Two U.S. citizens repatriated from the cruise ship MV Hondius have tested positive for mild cases of the Andes strain of hantavirus [1].

The situation marks a critical effort to contain a rare respiratory pathogen that has already caused a fatality on the vessel. Because the Andes strain can be transmitted between humans, officials are prioritizing isolation to prevent a wider public health crisis.

A total of 17 U.S. passengers were repatriated from the cruise [2]. In addition to the two positive cases, one other U.S. citizen is showing mild symptoms [1]. These three individuals are scheduled to be flown from Spain to the Regional Center for Emerging Pathogen Treatment in Nebraska for isolation and monitoring [3, 4].

The announcement regarding the transport occurred on Sunday, May 9, with the evacuation flight scheduled for Monday, May 10 [1, 5]. The movement of these passengers follows a series of health alerts tied to the MV Hondius. Earlier in April, the ship recorded its first death from hantavirus [6]. Following that initial fatality, approximately 40 passengers disembarked in Santa Elena [6].

There are conflicting reports regarding the exact location of the quarantine for all affected parties. U.S. officials said that citizens will be isolated at the center in Nebraska [4]. However, Spanish authorities said there is a 45-day voluntary quarantine period at the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid [5].

Health officials continue to monitor the remaining passengers from the MV Hondius. The Andes strain is particularly concerning to epidemiologists due to its ability to spread from person to person, unlike many other hantavirus strains that only spread via rodent contact [1].

“Two U.S. citizens repatriated from the cruise ship MV Hondius have tested positive for mild cases of the Andes strain of hantavirus”

The repatriation and isolation of these passengers reflect the high biosafety risk associated with the Andes strain of hantavirus. While the current cases are described as mild, the virus's potential for human-to-human transmission necessitates the use of specialized facilities like the Regional Center for Emerging Pathogen Treatment to prevent a domestic outbreak in the U.S.