French and American evacuees test positive for hantavirus

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that normally infect rodents and can cause severe lung or kidney disease in humans when inhaled through aerosolized urine, droppings, or saliva. The Andes strain, found in parts of South America, is the sole hantavirus documented to spread from person to person; this conclusion comes from observational cohort studies that followed about 150 confirmed cases in Argentina and Chile. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral therapy; treatment is supportive and focuses on oxygen therapy and fluid management.

French health minister Stéphanie Rist said the infected French woman’s symptoms worsened overnight and she is now in serious condition, receiving care in a specialised infectious‑diseases unit in Paris. US health officials reported that an evacuated American tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, while a second evacuee exhibited only mild symptoms. Spanish authorities noted that more than 100 people representing 23 nationalities were evacuated from the cruise ship in less than 48 hours, describing the operation as complex and unprecedented. The French woman was one of five French passengers who disembarked in Tenerife; she developed a fever during the evacuation flight but had a normal temperature when examined onboard the vessel. Three other passengers — a Dutch couple and a German woman — have died, and several others have fallen ill with the disease.

Although the Andes strain can transmit between humans, such events remain rare and the overall risk to the general public is considered low by health agencies. In response, authorities have imposed a 42‑day quarantine with active follow‑up, including daily temperature checks and symptom questionnaires, to break any possible chains of transmission. The World Health Organization recommends this approach, noting that early detection of fever, muscle aches, or shortness of breath improves outcomes. Practical steps for anyone who may have been exposed are to seek medical care promptly if symptoms appear and to comply with isolation instructions issued by public‑health teams.