Catalan cruise passengers evacuated over hantavirus outbreak remain symptom-free

The five Catalan passengers evacuated from the cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak remain asymptomatic while in quarantine at Madrid's Gómez Ulla military hospital, Catalonia's Secretary of Public Health, Esteve Fernández, said on Monday.

Speaking to Ser Catalunya radio, Fernández said it was "unlikely" that any of the group would test positive, although he acknowledged that infection remained "a possibility" given the close contact among passengers aboard the cruise ship.

His comments came after France and the United States each confirmed one hantavirus case among repatriated passengers, with US authorities also reporting another passenger with mild symptoms.

Fernández said authorities were awaiting the results of the first PCR tests carried out on the Catalan passengers evacuated from the MV Hondius.

He added that if the initial PCR tests are negative, the passengers will undergo a second round of testing after seven days. They are expected to remain in quarantine at the military hospital during that period unless circumstances change.

Fernández also said health authorities were considering adjustments to current protocols to determine whether quarantine periods could be completed in passengers' home regions or even at home.

The public health official said the Catalan passengers had expressed relief at being able to leave the cruise ship affected by the deadly hantavirus outbreak. The vessel arrived off Tenerife on Sunday but did not dock as part of an operation to repatriate passengers.

He added that the Catalan passengers had entered quarantine voluntarily and that, to his knowledge, judicial authorization prepared in case compulsory quarantine became necessary had not been used.

42-day quarantine

The 14 Spanish passengers from the cruise ship will remain in quarantine for 42 days, counted from May 6 as the date of last exposure, Spain's Secretary of State for Health, Javier Padilla, confirmed on Monday.

However, Padilla said the timetable could still change depending on whether any of the passengers currently quarantined at Madrid's Gómez Ulla military hospital are confirmed to have had contact with newly identified positive cases.

The Spanish passengers were evacuated from the cruise ship on Sunday and transported to Tenerife South Airport before flying to the Torrejón de Ardoz air base near Madrid. From there, they were taken to the Gómez Ulla hospital.