The 14 Spaniards from the MV Hondius are already at Gómez Ulla Hospital to do the quarantine while France confirms that one of the repatriated presents "symptoms" of hantavirus

The 14 Spanish citizens coming from the cruise ship MV Hondius —13 passengers and one crew member— have arrived this Sunday afternoon at the Central Defense Hospital Gómez Ulla, in Madrid, where they will remain in quarantine after having traveled aboard the ship affected by an outbreak of hantavirus.

The group landed around 15:00 hours at the Torrejón de Ardoz air base and, subsequently, was transferred to the hospital center, to which they arrived around 16:30 hours. Among the repatriated are five people from Cataluña, three from Madrid, three from the Principado de Asturias, one from Castilla y León, one from Galicia and one from the Comunidad Valenciana.

Upon its arrival, the hospital has activated a specific protocol to guarantee the safety both of the patients and of the healthcare staff. The head of prevention of CSIF of the Central Defense Hospital Gómez Ulla, José García, explained that a closed circuit has been enabled to avoid any contact with other patients or visitors.

“Calm, everything is foreseen. All protocols are activated, the area through which healthy people will access has already been closed and from there they will go up to the floor perfectly without having any contact with any family member or visitor”, García stated in declarations to the media at the doors of the center.

Once installed in the hospital, the repatriated will be subjected to a first medical and preventive evaluation. "It will be a first initial check by preventive which will include the entire series of tests that they have to analyze to establish an initial level for their treatment and their observation," he added.

France confirms that one of the repatriated from the 'MV Hondius' presents "symptoms" of hantavirus

On the other hand, the Prime Minister of France, Sébastien Lecornu, reported this Sunday that one of the five French citizens repatriated from the MV Hondius has begun to show symptoms during the return flight from Spain.

“Five of our compatriots who were traveling on the 'MV Hondius', origin of the hantavirus outbreak, have been repatriated to France. One of them developed symptoms during the repatriation flight”, the French leader communicated via social media.

Lecornu also explained that the five passengers have been immediately isolated and will remain under medical surveillance. According to what he indicated, “they have been immediately placed in strict isolation until further notice” and “they are receiving medical attention and will undergo tests and a health evaluation.”

Likewise, he announced that the French Government will approve tonight a decree to apply "the appropriate isolation measures for close contacts and to protect the general population."

Finally, she announced that the Minister of Health, Stéphanie Rist, will appear publicly to inform the public about the planned measures and the steps to follow.