First American hantavirus case confirmed from MV Hondius cruise ship

One of the 17 Americans evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship has tested positive for hantavirus, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Sunday night, marking the first confirmed case linked to the vessel.

HHS said one passenger “tested mildly PCR positive for the Andes virus” while a second passenger “currently has mild symptoms.” Both have been isolated in biocontainment units aboard the evacuation aircraft.

The 17 evacuated Americans are being transported to the ASPR Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, with the symptomatic passenger continuing to a second treatment center at a final destination HHS did not name. At least six Americans had already been under monitoring for the disease before Sunday’s confirmation.

This is a developing story.