32-year-old woman in Alicante suspected of hantavirus infection linked to Hondius cruise outbreak

A 32-year-old woman in Alicante, Spain is hospitalized with mild respiratory symptoms suggestive of hantavirus infection. She traveled on the same flight as a passenger who contracted Andes virus (ANDV) aboard the Hondius cruise ship and died in Johannesburg. The woman sat two rows behind the confirmed case with brief exposure. Laboratory tests are pending results within 24–48 hours, though initial tests have been negative. The Hondius outbreak has confirmed 5 cases and 3 deaths, primarily among elderly passengers, traced to an Argentine departure. The WHO states the public-health risk is low and pandemic spread is not anticipated. Contact tracing continues across six countries as additional suspected cases are monitored.