France escalates hantavirus surveillance after cruise ship outbreak leaves one patient critical

French health authorities have intensified surveillance for hantavirus following the identification of 22 contact cases linked to an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. The escalation comes as the total number of reported cases reaches 11, with nine confirmed, prompting heightened monitoring across the country.

A French woman infected during the cruise ship outbreak is currently in critical condition at Bichat Hospital in Paris. Dr Xavier Lescure, an infectious disease specialist at the facility, confirmed on Tuesday that the patient is undergoing treatment with an artificial lung. He described the device as the final stage of supportive care, designed to relieve pressure on the patient’s lungs and heart to allow for potential recovery.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated there is no evidence of widespread circulation of the virus beyond the ship’s passengers and crew. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that while confirmed and suspected cases have remained contained to those on board, the long incubation period of the virus means more cases could emerge in the coming weeks.

Hantavirus is known to cause severe respiratory and renal syndromes, often transmitted through contact with rodent excreta. While the virus generally has low infectiousness between humans, clusters associated with the disease have historically shown high fatality rates. Authorities have advised all returning passengers to monitor their health closely, though the specific geographic location of potential source locations, such as landfill sites, remains undefined in available reports.

The full scale of the incident remains unclear due to the virus’s long incubation period, meaning the final number of cases is not yet known. Health officials continue to track the 22 contact cases identified in France, maintaining strict surveillance protocols to prevent further spread.