France, Netherlands Report Negative Hantavirus Contact Cases from Cruise Ship Outbreak

In a significant development for public health, French authorities have announced that all 26 individuals in France who were identified as close contacts of hantavirus cases associated with the MV Hondius cruise ship have tested negative for the illness. This reassuring news follows similar confirmations from Dutch officials, who reported that all passengers evacuated to the Netherlands have also tested negative. These results provide a measure of relief amidst concerns over the rare but serious disease typically transmitted by rodents.

The situation involved several countries, with passengers from the ship being monitored and treated across different locations. In France, 22 of the individuals were on a flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg, or a subsequent Johannesburg-Amsterdam flight, which a Dutch passenger, who later died in South Africa, was also meant to take. French doctors are continuing to monitor four other passengers who were on the ship, while one French passenger who tested positive remains in serious condition. The 26 individuals in France will undergo regular testing as a precautionary measure.

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As of today, all close contacts of a person who tested positive for hantavirus, present in France, have tested negative, without exception.

Globally, the outbreak linked to the MV Hondius has resulted in three deaths, six confirmed hantavirus cases, and one probable case. The European Union has pledged to enhance information exchange among its member states to bolster the fight against hantavirus, with France advocating for closer coordination on health protocols. Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has assured the American public that the risk remains low, while actively managing the outbreak response, including monitoring passengers who were flown to Nebraska.

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To the American public, please know we are here to protect your health. Based on current information, the risk to the general population remains low.