Major update on doctor infected by hantavirus aboard MV Hondias
The British national suspected of being infected with hantavirus aboard MV Hondais has gone from critical to stable condition, according to health leaders
The British citizen identified as the MV Hondais' on board doctor is no longer in critical condition after suspected hantavirus contraction(Image: AP)
A British doctor who was aboard the luxury cruise ship that was impacted by a deadly hantavirus outbreak is no longer in critical condition, according to updates from health leaders.
Spanish health minister Monica Garcia provided an update about the British national, 56, identified as the ship's doctor, who was flown to the Netherlands to receive medical treatment alongside two others who were suspected to be infected with the deadly rodent-borne virus. Garcia confirmed that the doctor's condition shifted from "critical" to "stable."
The cruise ship's operator, Oceanwide, said in a statement that two of the three patients being sent to the Netherlands are "symptomatic" and in "serious condition."
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The British doctor is currently asymptomatic and was "closely associated" with the German citizen who died onboard the ship on May 2, according to Oceanwide.
Furthermore, the ship will dock in the Canary Islands despite strong pushback from its leader, Fernando Clavijo, who had previously blocked suggestions for it to dock in Tenerife. Clavijo had raised concerns that there was not “sufficient information” to guarantee public safety.
The British doctor is currently asymptomatic and was "closely associated" with the German citizen who died onboard the ship on May 2(Image: ELTON MONTEIRO/EPA/Shutterstock)
Garcia said that health officials had been in contact with the president and other leaders of the Canary Islands.
Garcia said during the press conference that all passengers remaining on the ship are currently exhibiting no symptoms of the virus and will be evacuated once they dock in Tenerife.
Garcia emphasized that the passengers posed "no risk" to Canary Island citizens and that the protocol would "avoid contact" with them.
Spanish citizens will quarantine on a Madrid military base, and people from other countries will be repatriated if they have no symptoms. There are 14 Spanish citizens aboard the ship.
The World Health Organization stated that eight suspected cases of hantavirus have been linked to the ship. Global health leaders believe the suspected outbreak may be spread between passengers- a very rare occurrence as human-to-human transmission is not common.
South Africa’s health ministry also confirmed on Wednesday that the two passengers tested within the country have the Andes strain of the virus, which, though rare, has been known to be transmissible between humans.
Swiss officials confirmed one case is being treated in Zurich.
The World Health Organization's director general issued a statement to X that at this stage, the overall public health risk remains low.
So far, a Dutch passenger lost their life aboard the vessel on April 11, followed by the death of the initial patient's wife on April 27, with authorities confirming a variant of hantavirus. Subsequently, a German passenger passed away on May 2, though the cause remains unconfirmed
My Daughter’s Bruises Made Her Mother Turn Into a Monster They Never Saw Coming
CHAPTER 1 — THE BRUISES SHE WASN’T SUPPOSED TO SEE
The night Doña Elena discovered the bruises, she stopped being just a mother.
And became something far more dangerous.
She had only come to her daughter’s home with simple things—homemade chicken soup, warm sweet bread, and prenatal vitamins Valeria always forgot to take.
The gated community in Metepec looked perfect from the outside.
Perfect lawns.
Perfect security.
Perfect silence.
The kind of place where nothing bad was supposed to happen.
Valeria, twenty-eight and seven months pregnant, lay curled on her side when she opened the door.
Her face was pale.
Too pale.
“Mom… you shouldn’t have come this late.”
“I’m your mother,” Elena said softly. “If your back hurts, I’d come even in a hailstorm.”
But the moment she stepped inside, something felt wrong.
No music.
No warmth.
No dinner smell.
Just silence.
Heavy. Artificial. Controlled.
When Elena adjusted the blanket over Valeria’s legs, her fingers stopped mid-air.
Dark purple bruises covered her daughter’s thighs.
Deep.
Irregular.
Not accidental.
Violent.
“Who did this to you?”
Valeria froze.
“No, Mom… please don’t ask.”
Elena’s breath caught.
“Did Adrián do this?”
Silence answered louder than words.
Valeria broke.
“He said no one would believe me… that he knows judges, police, prosecutors… he said if I speak, he’ll take my baby.”
That night, something inside Elena didn’t break.
It hardened.
Before leaving, she kissed her daughter’s forehead.
And whispered:
“I’ll come back.”
