Major hantavirus update as cruise ship passenger reports symptoms on flight home

The passenger experiences symptoms after leaving the cruise. (Image: Getty)

One of the French passengers on the hantavirus cruise ships has now reported symptoms, the French Prime Minister confirmed. The traveller exhibited symptoms of the virus while on a repatriation flight along with four other French people, all of whom are now in "strict isolation until further notice".

Sébastien Lecornu wrote on X: "Five of our compatriots present on the MV Hondius, a hotbed of Hantavirus infection, have been repatriated to national territory. One of them exhibited symptoms on the repatriation flight. As a result, these five passengers were immediately placed in strict isolation until further notice.

Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the reported symptoms. (Image: Getty)

This comes after the Dutch-flagged cruise ship docked in Spain, more than a week after authorities were first alerted to the medical emergency on board.

The MV Hondius, which has more than 140 passengers and crew on board, was directed to the Canary Islands by European health authorities and the World Health Organisation (WHO) after being refused port in Cape Verde.

So far, the outbreak has caused three deaths, and five passengers who had previously left the vessel have since been found to be infected with hantavirus.