90-Second Read: 2 more passengers evacuated from cruise ship test positive for Hantavirus

A French woman and an American have tested positive for the Hantavirus as nations around the world repatriated passengers from a cruise ship hit by an outbreak and quarantine or isolate them. Three cruise ship passengers have died, and there are at least six confirmed Hantavirus cases, according to the World Health Organization. Health authorities say the risk to the broader public is low from the first-ever Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. Passengers from the ship began flying home aboard military and government planes Sunday after the MV Hondius anchored in the Canary Islands.

A Dutch plane expected to reach Tenerife Monday afternoon will carry passengers that were previously going to be evacuated on a plane sent by Australia, Spain's Health Minister Mónica García said. It wasn't until early May that the World Health Organization said it was reacting to a suspected Hantavirus outbreak on the ship, which by that time was off the West African island nation of Cape Verde. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. The lab results of the American who tested positive were inconclusive, WHO spokesperson Sarah Tyler said Monday.

While there is no cure or vaccine for Hantavirus, the WHO says early detection and treatment improves survival rates. Once there, they were being assessed to determine whether they have been in close contact with any symptomatic people and their risk levels for spreading the virus. South African health authorities said on Monday that the condition of a British man admitted to a hospital in Johannesburg and being treated for Hantavirus was gradually improving. Hantavirus usually spreads from rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between people.

The planes arriving in Tenerife were to fly out passengers from more than 20 countries in an evacuation effort that was due to wrap up on Monday. On Monday, 54 passengers and crew remained on the ship, of which 22 were expected to disembark, while the remaining 32 will remain on the ship as it returns to the Netherlands. After landing in Nebraska early Monday, the American passengers were being taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which has a federally funded quarantine facility.