A French passenger who was aboard the cruise ship "Hondius," which has been affected by a hantavirus outbreak, has tested positive for the virus, and her condition is worsening, French Health Minister Stephanie Rist reported to Reuters and France Presse, as reported by BTA. The passenger was among the five French citizens on the ship. The other four passengers have tested negative, but will be retested. To date, French authorities have traced 22 contacts.
"It is crucial to act at the outset and break the chains of virus transmission. We are doing this together with the Prime Minister, especially with an order that came out today and will allow us to strengthen the isolation measures for contacts and protect the population," the minister added.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is scheduled to hold a meeting later today regarding the hantavirus crisis. Minister Rist believes that France has enough masks and tests to manage any potential crisis. Another passenger who tested positive for hantavirus is an American.
This hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship is getting out of hand! How could they not have better protocols in place to prevent such a crisis? Let's hope they get it under control before more people get sick.