The Spanish government has confirmed a new hantavirus infection. This newest case involves a “close contact” of a person connected to the initial outbreak, the Health Ministry said in a statement Monday.
The patient who tested positive has been under clinical surveillance and isolation at Gómez Ulla Hospital, according to the Health Ministry.
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According to a report by NBC News, the patient’s positive case was detected during periodic testing of contacts of people associated with the outbreak. Following the positive test, the patient was transferred to the high-level isolation unit at Gómez Ulla Hospital and placed under specialized medical supervision, the statement continued.
While hantavirus is endemic in parts of South America, it still remains very rare among humans and has never before been recorded on a cruise ship. Global and U.S. health officials have consistently attempted to calm fears of a wider outbreak.
This case involved a person who was already isolated, so it is of no concern to the public, according to health officials in Spain. The incubation period for hanatavirus can be up to six weeks, accoridng to NBC News. There have been no deaths since May 2nd.
Twenty crew members and two medical staff members disembarked from the cruise ship in the Netherlands last week, Oceanwide Expeditions said. The cruise ship’s arrival ended its seven-week, 8,500-mile journey, which was hit by up to 11 infections and three deaths from the rare disease.
Most passengers on the ship MV Hondius, where the initial outbreak occurred, are still in quarantine in their home countries.
This outbreak should be of little concern to most people. However, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is quickly getting out of control. It has been difficult to contain from the beginning, thanks to unrest and violence in the region, causing displacement.
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