A 32-year-old woman suspected of having hantavirus has been hospitalized in Spain after being on the same flight as a passenger who later died on MV Hondius. She is currently receiving care at Sant Joan General Hospital in Alicante, located in Spain’s Costa Blanca region. According to Javier Padilla, the Spanish government’s Secretary of State for Health, the woman exhibited symptoms such as coughing while at her family home in Alicante. Following the identification of her compatible symptoms, health authorities swiftly arranged for her safe transfer to the hospital in coordination with relevant health departments.
Health officials in the region released a statement confirming that the woman is under observation due to mild respiratory symptoms and will be moved to a specialized negative-pressure room within a hospital in Alicante for further evaluation. Samples will be collected and sent for testing at the National Center for Microbiology, with results expected within 24 to 48 hours. The patient was contacted after an alert was received through the European Alert System, and the Regional Ministry of Health will provide updates on her condition in compliance with public health guidelines.
In a related development, a Dutch woman disembarked from MV Hondius on April 24 and traveled to Johannesburg with her deceased husband, who passed away on the cruise ship earlier in April. She fell ill during the flight and tragically died upon arrival in Johannesburg. Additionally, on April 27, another passenger, a British national, fell seriously ill and was evacuated to a hospital in South Africa. Currently, this individual is receiving intensive care in Johannesburg and is in a critical but stable condition. Health authorities have identified a hantavirus variant in this patient.
This ongoing situation is a matter of public health significance, and updates on the patient’s condition will be shared as necessary to address the international attention attracted by this health issue.
