Overview
- The five Catalan patients received hospital discharge from Hospital Gómez Ulla after testing negative for the Andes strain of hantavirus and have returned to Catalonia to finish the required 42-day isolation under active follow-up.
- While at home the patients will undergo twice-daily temperature checks, must report any symptoms immediately, and must live in a ventilated single room with a private bathroom as set out by public health protocol.
- The infections trace back to an outbreak aboard the MV Hondius expedition that began in April, led to a May evacuation through the Canary Islands and resulted in three deaths during the crisis.
- Authorities say seven other patients from the same outbreak remain in hospital or are awaiting discharge and one patient will need additional inpatient care.
- Regional and national health services will coordinate ongoing surveillance and clinical follow-up for up to six months to detect any late effects and to protect close contacts.