French flag. Photo: Shutterstock French authorities isolate passengers.
France has raised its alert level following a hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius ship, after five French citizens were repatriated and one developed symptoms during the evacuation flight.
France's Minister of Defense, Sébastien Lecornu, announced that all five passengers were immediately placed in strict medical isolation. They are under observation and will undergo a series of medical tests and assessments.
This move follows recent days in which Spanish health authorities, in coordination with World Health Organization experts, began the gradual evacuation of ship passengers from Tenerife port.
Simultaneously, the French government issued a special emergency decree allowing isolation and quarantine not only for ship passengers but also for anyone who had contact with them and is considered at risk of infection. According to the decree, the isolation period may last up to 42 days.
The order also includes another unusual directive: passengers who took certain international flights connected to the ship's route have been asked to report to health authorities and undergo a medical risk assessment.
MV Hondius ship. Photo: Mystic Stock Photography / Shutterstock.comThe main concern centers on the Andes strain of hantavirus, which is considered relatively rare. Unlike most hantavirus strains, primarily transmitted from rodents to humans, there have been isolated cases of human-to-human transmission with this strain.
According to the WHO, the risk to the general public is still classified as low. However, the fact that a French passenger developed symptoms during the flight prompted authorities in France to take especially strict precautionary measures.
The initial symptoms of the illness often resemble the flu and include:
- High fever
- Muscle aches
- Weakness and fatigue
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
In severe cases, the virus can cause significant respiratory distress and even life-threatening complications.
According to the official document published in France, authorities may continue medical isolation and monitoring of passengers and contacts as needed, under the supervision of health officials and the local police.
At this stage, French officials emphasize that these are preventive measures intended to stop any possible widespread spread, while monitoring of the ship's passengers continues in other European countries as well.