France Hospitalizes 22 MV Hondius Contacts After Andes Hantavirus Outbreak

Overview

• The Health Ministry says all 22 identified contacts are now in hospitals, with eight from the Sainte‑Hélène–Johannesburg flight in Paris and 14 others placed in facilities across France, with testing under way.
• The French passenger repatriated from the ship remains in intensive care in serious condition in Paris, and the AP‑HP clarified she has not received extracorporeal oxygenation at this stage.
• The World Health Organization reports at least nine confirmed and two probable cases linked to the MV Hondius and three deaths, and the ship is sailing to the Netherlands with arrival expected in Rotterdam.
• The government ordered reinforced hospital quarantine for every contact—lasting up to 42 days based on exposure risk—and is urging EU partners to align protocols to cut potential transmission.
• Andes hantavirus is the only hantavirus known to spread between people and its incubation can last up to six weeks, which is why contacts face extended monitoring even as officials rate the general population risk as low.