French woman repatriated from MV Hondius remains in serious condition: health minister-Xinhua

French woman repatriated from MV Hondius remains in serious condition: health minister

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2026-05-13 02:32:45

PARIS, May 12 (Xinhua) -- A French woman infected with Andes virus infections after being repatriated from the cruise ship MV Hondius remains in intensive care and is in serious condition, French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said on Tuesday.

The woman was among five French nationals repatriated from the ship, which has been linked to infections of Andes virus, a rodent-borne hantavirus endemic to South America and the only known hantavirus capable of limited human-to-human transmission.

"The patient is still in intensive care and in serious condition," Rist said, adding that the other four "are doing well and have tested negative."

Rist added that 22 other French contact cases have been identified and contacted, and they are either hospitalized or in the process of being hospitalized, and there is currently "no elements suggesting a diffuse circulation of the virus" in France.