Lorraine Williamson
Spain is investigating a suspected hantavirus case in Alicante as international health authorities continue tracing contacts linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak.
The case involves a 32-year-old woman who was reportedly on the same flight as a Dutch passenger who later died after contracting Andes hantavirus. She has been admitted to Hospital Sant Joan in Alicante with symptoms compatible with the virus and is being tested.
At a glance
- Spain: One suspected case is being tested in Alicante.
- UK: A third British national is now a suspected case.
- Cruise ship: MV Hondius is expected near Tenerife this weekend.
- Public risk: Authorities say isolation and monitoring protocols are in place.
Alicante patient isolated while tests continue
According to El País, the woman in Alicante shared a flight with one of the passengers who later died. She was reportedly seated two rows behind the Dutch woman.
Spanish health officials have stressed that infection is considered unlikely because the contact was brief. Even so, protocols have been activated as a precaution.
If testing confirms hantavirus, she is expected to be transferred to a specialist facility. Contact tracing has also begun.
A second person who travelled to Spain after possible exposure has not shown symptoms and is not currently considered a suspected case.
UK confirms third suspected British case
The UK Health Security Agency has reported a third suspected case involving a British national linked to the same outbreak.
Reuters reported that the person is on Tristan da Cunha, the remote South Atlantic island where the MV Hondius stopped between 13 and 15 April.
Two other British nationals have already tested positive and are receiving care in the Netherlands and South Africa.
British passengers returning home may face strict infection-control measures. The Guardian reported that some could be asked to isolate for up to 45 days, reflecting the long incubation period linked to the virus.
MV Hondius expected near Tenerife
Spanish authorities are preparing to receive more than 140 passengers and crew from the MV Hondius in the Canary Islands.
The vessel is expected near Granadilla Port in Tenerife on Sunday, although the exact timing may depend on weather conditions.
The ship is not expected to dock immediately. Passengers are likely to be transferred under strict protective measures.
Spanish authorities are also watching the weather closely, as poor conditions could complicate the offshore transfer operation once the MV Hondius reaches waters near Granadilla.
Spanish passengers to be monitored in Madrid
Spain has approved a protocol for Spanish passengers travelling from the ship.
They are expected to undergo quarantine and medical monitoring at Madrid’s Hospital Gómez Ulla, one of the country’s main reference centres for this kind of controlled health response.
The operation is being coordinated with international health authorities as countries work to repatriate passengers safely.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious infection usually linked to contact with infected rodents, or their urine, droppings or saliva.
The outbreak linked to MV Hondius involves Andes hantavirus, a strain associated with South America.
It is unusual because Andes hantavirus is one of the few types where person-to-person transmission has been documented in certain circumstances. That is why international contact tracing is now underway.
Latest confirmed case numbers
Reuters reported that the World Health Organisation had recorded five confirmed infections and three suspected cases as of Thursday, with three deaths linked to the outbreak.
Health authorities are still trying to establish where the first infections occurred and whether transmission happened before, during or after the cruise.
Earlier reporting suggested the initial infection may have happened off the ship, before boarding in Argentina.
US authorities involved in response
The United States is also involved in the international response.
ABC News reported that the CDC has classified the outbreak as a Level 3 emergency response, its lowest activation level, while US-linked passengers are monitored and repatriation plans continue.
That does not mean there is a wider public emergency in Spain. It reflects the international nature of the passengers, the rarity of the virus and the need for careful coordination.
Not a cause for panic in Spain
For Spain, the key developments are the suspected Alicante case and the planned controlled arrival of the MV Hondius near Tenerife.
Both are being managed through isolation, testing and contact tracing. Health authorities have not suggested a wider public risk in Spain.
The next important updates will be the Alicante test result, the weather-dependent Tenerife transfer and the repatriation of passengers once the ship reaches Canary Islands waters.