00:15A rare virus scare is now unfolding across Europe after an Antarctic cruise turned into
00:22a global health investigation.
00:24Spain has confirmed a positive case of Hantavirus in one of the passengers repatriated from
00:30the expedition ship MV Hondias, raising fresh concerns about a multi-country outbreak linked
00:37to the voyage.
00:38Health authorities say the infected individual is a Spanish passenger who tested positive
00:44for the Andes strain of Hantavirus, a rare form of the virus that in limited cases can
00:50spread between humans.
00:51The patient is currently isolated at Gomez Ula Military Hospital in Madrid inside a
00:58high-security containment unit designed for infectious diseases.
01:03Officials report the patient is stable, showing only mild symptoms, including low-grade fever
01:08and slight oxygen issues.
01:10The remaining 13 Spanish passengers tested negative, while a previously suspected U.S. case was
01:17later ruled out after further laboratory testing.
01:19The confirmation came on May 12, 2026, following initial testing a day earlier.
01:26All repatriated passengers remain under strict 42-day quarantine as part of international health
01:33protocols.
01:34The outbreak is linked to the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondias, which carried around 150 passengers
01:41and crew on an Antarctic expedition that began in early April from Argentina.
01:46During the voyage, multiple passengers reportedly developed symptoms, with several confirmed cases and
01:53fatalities later linked to the ship across different countries.
01:57Health agencies say the Andes strain is typically spread by rodents, but rare human-to-human transmission
02:03has been documented, making this outbreak more closely monitored than usual.
02:08The ship was eventually isolated at sea after several ports denied entry, before passengers
02:15were evacuated under strict medical supervision in Tenerife, Spain.
02:19Since then, additional cases and suspected infections have been reported in other countries, including
02:25France, the United States, and parts of Europe, triggering international contact tracing efforts.
02:31Despite the concern, health officials emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low, as transmission
02:38requires close and prolonged contact.
02:41Still, the MV Hondias outbreak is now under global surveillance, as experts work to understand
02:47how the virus spread during the expedition, and whether further cases could emerge.
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