After one American passenger linked to the Hondius outbreak tested positive for the Andes strain of Hantavirus Infection, while another experienced mild symptoms, authorities repatriated 17 US citizens from the cruise ship.<\/p>\n
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the Americans were traveling on a flight from Tenerife that arrived in Nebraska, according to New York Times. Video footage from the Associated Press showed a Kalitta Air aircraft landing in Omaha early Monday.<\/p>\n
The US Department of State transported them to the United States on a special evacuation flight, as per Bloomberg. Two of them were being flown in biocontainment units \u201cout of an abundance of caution,\u201d the US Department of Health and Human Services said in a post on X late Sunday.<\/p>\n
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Seventeen US citizens were repatriated from Spain after one passenger linked to the Hantavirus outbreak tested positive for the Andes strain and another experienced mild symptoms. They were transported on a special evacuation flight for medical evaluation and monitoring.<\/p>\n
The Andes strain of Hantavirus is the only known variant capable of limited person-to-person transmission in close-contact settings. While typically rodent-borne, it can spread between people in close proximity, though not airborne like influenza or COVID-19.<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that travelers be actively monitored for up to 42 days due to the virus’s extended incubation period. This monitoring includes health checks and potential quarantine.<\/p>\n
Early symptoms of Hantavirus infection resemble influenza, including fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal problems. In severe cases, it can progress to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome with shortness of breath and fluid in the lungs.<\/p>\n
The Americas’ strain of hantavirus can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a severe respiratory illness. Approximately 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die, according to the ECDC.<\/p>\n
Upon arrival, the passengers are expected to be taken to a specialised treatment facility in Omaha for medical evaluation and monitoring, with additional treatment to be provided if necessary.<\/p>\n
The development represents the first confirmed infection involving a US citizen linked to the outbreak, which has already claimed three lives and triggered a response spanning several countries.<\/p>\n
What did WHO say?<\/p>\n
The World Health Organisation<\/a> (WHO) said on Friday that all laboratory-confirmed cases have involved the Andes strain of Hantavirus Infection, the only known variant capable of limited person-to-person transmission in close-contact settings. The agency added that it considers the overall global risk to be low.<\/p>\n Jay Bhattacharya, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, informed CNN\u2019s State of the Union, \u201cWe don\u2019t want to treat it like Covid. We don\u2019t want to cause a public panic over this.\u201d<\/p>\n Repatriation flights started on Sunday after the Hondius docked in Tenerife, with passengers being transported to countries including Spain, France, Canada and the Netherlands, according to World Health Organization officials. The WHO has advised that travelers be actively monitored for up to 42 days because of the virus\u2019s extended incubation period.<\/p>\n The United Kingdom said military personnel parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha to deliver medical supplies, highlighting the logistical difficulties of reaching the isolated island. A British resident connected to the voyage is currently being monitored as a suspected case.<\/p>\n Former White House Covid-19 response coordinator reacts<\/p>\n Some specialists say the outbreak could reshape understanding of how the virus is transmitted. Former White House<\/a> Covid-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha said in a post on X that early evidence suggests infection may occur without prolonged close contact and urged authorities to impose strict quarantine measures for passengers.<\/p>\n Earlier studies of Andes hantavirus outbreaks have shown that the virus can spread in shared spaces even without direct physical contact, including during short interactions in crowded indoor settings, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.<\/p>\n What is Hantavirus?<\/p>\n