Hantavirus. Photo: Shutterstock The U.S. government has confirmed the emergency repatriation of 17 American citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship following the outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus onboard.
According to a joint update from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the evacuation operation is being carried out in coordination with the U.S. State Department.
Officials stated that all 17 Americans are currently en route to the United States aboard a State Department airlift operation.
As an added precaution, two passengers are traveling inside specialized biocontainment units onboard the aircraft.
Authorities confirmed that:
-One passenger is currently exhibiting mild symptoms
-Another passenger has tested mildly PCR positive for the Andes hantavirus strain
Health officials emphasized that the enhanced precautions are being taken “out of an abundance of caution.”
"As of now, the airlift will transport passengers to the ASPR Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska before taking the passenger with mild symptoms to a second RESPTC at its final destination. Upon arrival at each facility, each individual will undergo clinical assessment and receive appropriate care and support based on their condition."
UPDATE: The HHS has announced that another passenger from the cruise ship, an 18-year-old American-British citizen, was transferred along with other passengers to the Center for Infectious Diseases at the University of Nebraska in Omaha.
According to the announcement, the young man arrived on the rescue flight organized by the US State Department, and joins 15 other passengers staying at the medical center for medical evaluation, treatment and monitoring.
The two additional passengers who developed mild symptoms during the flight and tested mildly CPR positive were transferred to the Emory University Infectious Disease Center in Atlanta.
HHS noted that all passengers will receive medical evaluation and treatment according to their medical condition and personal needs.
As a reminder, a French repatriated passenger also showed symptoms during the rescue flight from the North Atlantic. The Spanish Minister of Health, Monica Garcia, has confirmed that "both the woman from Alicante (suspected case) and the woman from Barcelona (contact) have tested negative for PCR tests. Confirmation tests will be repeated as indicated by the protocol."