American Passenger Tests Positive for Hantavirus

An American citizen tested positive for hantavirus during a repatriation flight from a cruise ship that experienced an outbreak. The individual, who showed mild symptoms, was evacuated to the University of Nebraska Medical Center's biocontainment unit for monitoring.

The flight landed in Omaha early Monday after departing from Tenerife. French Prime Minister Bastien Lecornu confirmed that five passengers were isolated due to symptoms, with at least nine confirmed or suspected cases linked to the outbreak, including three fatalities.

The cruise ship, MV Hondiu, carried nearly 150 people from 15 countries, including 17 Americans. Health officials stated that the risk of a widespread outbreak remains low, and precautions were taken during the evacuation process.

The CDC dispatched a team to assess exposure risks among American passengers. The ship is expected to undergo disinfection upon arrival in Rotterdam.