ISTANBUL: Spain on Monday confirmed a new case of hantavirus among individuals undergoing preventive quarantine at a hospital in Madrid, Anadolu Agency reported.
“The positive case was detected during periodic diagnostic checks carried out on contacts under surveillance,” the country’s Ministry of Health said in a post on social media platform X.
It is the second positive case among 14 Spanish nationals evacuated to Tenerife from the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius.
The ship was carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries.
On May 11, the Spanish Health Minister announced that a Spanish passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship had tested positive for hantavirus shortly after authorities completed the ship’s evacuation operation.
Authorities on Monday said the individual had been under clinical monitoring and isolation since being admitted to hospital, “in accordance with the protocols set by the Early Warning and Rapid Response System.”
Following confirmation via PCR testing, the patient was transferred to the High-Level Isolation Unit at Gomez Ulla Hospital, and will continue to be under specialized medical monitoring and strict biosecurity measures.
“The patient will continue to be admitted to the hospital under special medical monitoring and biosecurity measures provided for such cases,” the ministry said.
Health authorities stressed that the detection was made within a control system that had already been activated.
“Case detection occurred within the isolation and control system that has been activated, therefore it does not change the risk situation for the general population,” the ministry said.
— BERNAMA-ANADOLU
