The woman started to feel unwell on the repatriation flight Sunday night, after the ship docked in Tenerife, Spain, reported Le Figaro. The other passengers will be re-tested, Rist said. All five passengers are now in isolation in Paris.
One of the 17 repatriated U.S. citizens has also tested positive while another is showing symptoms, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Sunday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen thanked Spain and other authorities for swiftly disembarking passengers Sunday, adding they are working “hand in hand” with health agencies to evacuate passengers.
World Health Organization officials said last week there could be further cases confirmed as health authorities test passengers and contacts for the virus. There were 77 people from Europe aboard the ship, according to a statement from the ship’s Dutch operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, on May 4. WHO moved to calm fears the outbreak posed a health risk on the scale of Covid-19.
Hantavirus is typically spread by infected rats. The variant involved in this outbreak, the Andes subtype, is the only one known to spread between humans. Three people who were on the ship died after contracting the virus.
This article has been updated with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s social media post.
