3 suspected cases of Hantavirus in Spain, a 32-year-old woman presents symptoms consistent with infection

Authorities in Spain are investigating three cases linked to an outbreak of Hantavirus that began on the luxury tourist ship “MV Hondius”, while the World Health Organization continues to assess the public risk as low.

The latest case in Spain involves a 32-year-old woman from the province of Alicante, who has shown mild respiratory symptoms and is being tested for hantavirus. According to authorities, test results are expected within 24 to 48 hours.

Spanish Secretary of State for Health, Javier Padilla, stated that the woman had been seated two rows behind a Dutch passenger on a flight from Johannesburg on April 25. The Dutch passenger, who had been infected with the virus aboard the “MV Hondius”, became ill during the flight and later died in hospital.

Padilla emphasized that the contact between them had been “very brief”, as the Dutch woman had only been on the plane for a short time. However, regional authorities in Valencia have begun tracing the recent contacts of the Spanish woman.

The outbreak of hantavirus is linked to a cluster of cases identified on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship, which departed from Argentina in March with around 150 passengers and crew members. The ship had stopped in Antarctica and later at Tristan da Cunha island in the South Atlantic.

So far, three people — a Dutch couple and a German national — have died after being infected. Four other cases have been confirmed in the Netherlands, South Africa, and Switzerland.

According to the WHO, some of the cases were caused by the “Andes” variant of hantavirus, the only type known to be transmissible between humans, usually through close and prolonged contact with symptomatic individuals.

International experts have stressed that the virus does not spread easily and that there is no cause for alarm. However, the outbreak has put health authorities in several countries on alert, while passengers from the ship are being monitored for possible symptoms.

The ship “MV Hondius” is expected to dock in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where passengers and crew will undergo health checks according to WHO protocols.

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