WHO confirms 11 hantavirus cases linked to cruise ship as Spain detects new case

The Hague: A Spanish passenger evacuated from the cruise ship at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the virus, Spain's health ministry announced Tuesday as the World Health Organization said it has now confirmed 11 cases, including three people from the cruise who died.

The passenger with the new confirmed case of hantavirus was in quarantine in a military hospital in Madrid, where 13 other Spanish nationals evacuated Sunday-who all tested negative for the virus - also are staying.

With the evacuation of all passengers and many crew members completed, the MV Hondius is now sailing back to the the Netherlands, where it will be cleaned and disinfected.


The director of the WHO , who was in Madrid, said all 11 confirmed cases are among passengers or crew of the MV Hondius cruise ship.