A French passenger evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius has reportedly developed symptoms linked to hantavirus while being repatriated to France, raising fresh concerns over the outbreak aboard the vessel.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu disclosed that the passenger began showing symptoms during a chartered evacuation flight from Tenerife to Paris.
According to Lecornu, the development prompted authorities to place all five French nationals evacuated from the ship into “strict isolation until further notice.”
The affected passengers are among more than 90 tourists who were ferried home on Sunday after the vessel anchored off the Canary Islands before dawn.
The outbreak aboard the cruise ship has already claimed three lives, with two of the deceased confirmed to have contracted hantavirus.
Following the arrival of the evacuation flight at Le Bourget Airport, emergency personnel dressed in full personal protective equipment were seen receiving the passengers on the tarmac.
The evacuees were subsequently transported by ambulance to Bichat Hospital for monitoring and treatment.
Health authorities across Europe have continued to intensify surveillance and contact tracing efforts following fears that the outbreak could spread further among passengers and crew members who recently travelled aboard the ship.
