French Hantavirus Patient Critically Ill on Artificial Lung Amid Cruise Ship Outbreak

A French passenger infected with hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship is in critical condition and relying on an artificial lung for survival, according to French health officials. The patient, a woman over 65 with pre-existing conditions, is receiving intensive care at Bichat Hospital in Paris. This case is part of a growing cluster linked to the vessel, with the World Health Organization confirming nine confirmed cases and two suspected infections globally. All identified patients were passengers on the MV Hondius. While the risk of a wider outbreak remains low, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that more cases could emerge due to the virus's long incubation period. Meanwhile, evacuation efforts have concluded, with the ship returning to the Netherlands for disinfection. Other passengers, including six Australians and a New Zealander, are in isolation in the Netherlands before repatriation to Perth for further quarantine. A Spanish passenger also tested positive and is quarantined in Madrid. No specific vaccine or treatment currently exists for hantavirus, making supportive care crucial for severe cases.