French hantavirus patient is critically ill as outbreak grows to 11

"The French passenger hospitalized in Paris has a severe form of the disease that has caused life-threatening lung and heart problems, said Dr. Xavier Lescure, an infectious disease specialist at Bichat Hospital. He said the woman is on a life-support device that pumps blood through an artificial lung, providing it with oxygen and returning it to the body. The hope is that the device relieves enough pressure on the lungs and heart to give them some time to recover. Lescure called it "the final stage of supportive care.""

"The outbreak has now reached 11 total reported cases, 9 of which have been confirmed. Three people on the cruise died, including a Dutch couple that health officials believe were the first exposed to the virus while visiting South America. With the evacuation of all passengers and many crew members completed, the MV Hondius is now sailing back to the Netherlands, where it will be cleaned and disinfected."

"The director of the World Health Organization said confirmed and suspected cases have only been reported among the cruise ship's passengers or crew. "At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general. He added: "But of course the situation could change, and given the long incubation period of the virus, it's possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.""

"The latest person confirmed to be infected is a Spanish passenger who tested positive for hantavirus after being evacuated from the ship, Spain's health ministry said Tuesday. The passenger was in quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid. Health authorities say it is the first hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship."

A French woman infected during a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship is critically ill and receiving treatment with an artificial lung that pumps blood for oxygenation. The disease has caused life-threatening lung and heart problems, and the device is intended to relieve pressure so the lungs and heart can recover. The outbreak has reached 11 reported cases, with 9 confirmed, and three deaths have occurred, including a Dutch couple believed to have been first exposed during a visit to South America. All passengers and many crew members have been evacuated, and the MV Hondius is returning to the Netherlands for cleaning and disinfection. Confirmed and suspected cases have been limited to ship passengers and crew, though more cases could appear due to a long incubation period. A Spanish passenger was confirmed after evacuation and is quarantined in Madrid.

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