One American showing hantavirus symptoms after cruise, another tests positive: HHS

An American traveler returning to the US from the hantavirus-infected MV Hondius cruise ship has tested positive for the virus, while another passenger is displaying mild symptoms, as per health authorities.

Both passengers were transported via biocontainment units on a repatriation flight to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, courtesy of the Department of Health and Human Services on Sunday night.

Upon landing in Nebraska at about 2:30 a.m. on Monday, an individual was found to be mildly PCR positive for Andes virus, which has already claimed three lives aboard the ship and infected multiple others. Concurrently, another passenger is showing mild symptoms, but it remains unclear if they have been tested for the rodent-borne virus.

Presently, the plan is to transport the passengers to the ASPR Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center located at the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, before taking the symptomatic passenger to a secondary center at the final destination.

At each facility, passengers will undergo clinical assessments accordingly and receive the necessary care and support based on their health status. The World Health Organization has recommended a 42-day isolation period for those who were aboard the afflicted vessel.

A shocking 38% of individuals who develop respiratory symptoms from the disease ultimately succumb to it, according to the CDC, making it a perilous situation for the passengers involved.

This situation is continuously evolving, and information is subject to change. Kindly look out for further updates as the story progresses.