American Evacuated from Hantavirus Cruise Ship Tests Positive

One of the 17 American citizens evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship and flown back to the U.S. has tested positive for hantavirus without showing symptoms, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed. Another passenger exhibited mild symptoms. Both were transported in the plane's biocontainment unit out of an abundance of caution.

The flight touched down early Monday in Omaha, where all 17 were taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for assessment. One passenger will be monitored in the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit after testing positive but remaining asymptomatic.

Three people have died since the outbreak began. Meanwhile, a French woman who tested positive for the virus developed symptoms during her repatriation flight to Paris, according to France's Health Minister.

Andes virus, a type of hantavirus spread by rodents and rarely person-to-person, causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). The CDC notes it is the only hantavirus known to transmit between humans, typically through close contact.