The World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has urged nations to brace for a potential increase in hantavirus cases. This announcement came as French authorities disclosed that a woman who contracted the virus aboard the MV Hondius was suffering from its most severe form, necessitating the use of a ventilator.
In a press conference held in Madrid, Tedros expressed gratitude towards Spain for its humanitarian response in accommodating the affected cruise ship. He emphasized the importance of adhering to WHO’s guidelines, which recommend a 42-day quarantine and diligent monitoring of individuals at high risk. While he noted that there are currently no indications of a significant outbreak, he cautioned that the virus’s lengthy incubation period could lead to more cases emerging in the near future.
Health officials in Paris revealed that the French patient, a 65-year-old woman with pre-existing medical conditions, had been transferred to intensive care due to severe cardiopulmonary complications. Dr. Xavier Lescure, addressing the media, mentioned that she was reliant on an artificial lung and a blood bypass in an effort to stabilize her condition.
Meanwhile, the Spanish health ministry reported that one of the 14 Spaniards evacuated from the cruise ship and quarantined at a military hospital in Madrid tested positive for hantavirus. The individual displayed mild respiratory symptoms and a low-grade fever but was described as stable with no significant clinical deterioration.
Tedros, speaking alongside Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, pointed out the likelihood of additional cases due to the interaction among passengers before the first confirmed case was identified on May 2. He recalled that the initial case on the ship was detected on April 6, during which time there was significant passenger interaction, exacerbated by the virus’s six to eight-week incubation period. With the evacuation complete, Tedros underscored the responsibility of individual countries to care for their citizens, ensuring both the well-being of the patients and the safety of the general public.