90-Second Read: American passengers from Hantavirus-hit cruise ship arrive back in the U.S.

The 17 Americans who were aboard the Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship Hondius have now arrived home in the United States The 17 Americans who were aboard the Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship Hondius have now arrived home in the United States. Meanwhile, a woman who was among five French passengers repatriated Sunday to Paris from the Hondius has tested positive for Hantavirus and her health worsened in the hospital overnight, French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said Monday. American and global health officials have stressed throughout this outbreak that the risk to the wider public is low and that transmission is only possible through close contact. The luxury cruise ship arrived early Sunday at the island of Tenerife, the largest of Spain's Canary Islands off the coast of west Africa. Its long and arduous.

Locals in Tenerife had opposed the ship's arrival and raised fears that Hantavirus could spread beyond the Hondius' crew and guests, but these concerns were overruled by Spain's national government in Madrid. Hantavirus infections among people are rare and have never previously been recorded on a cruise ship. A World Health Organization investigation is under way to pinpoint the origin of this outbreak, with particular attention placed on a birdwatching trip in southern Argentina, which the first passenger to die took part in before joining the cruise. A State Department plane carrying them landed at Omaha Eppley Airfield in Nebraska at about 2:30 a.m. ET Monday, and the passengers were due to be assessed and monitored at a nearby medical center.

Two Americans traveled in the plane's biocontainment units "out of an abundance of caution," the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement. One passenger has tested positive, while another with mild symptoms, whose test status is unknown, will be taken to a separate health facility for treatment. Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia told a news conference Sunday that a plane would leave for Australia later on Monday with six passengers from Australia, New Zealand and across Asia. A plane left for the Netherlands Sunday with 18 people on board including some Hondius crew and passengers whose countries didn't organize repatriation flights, including Belgium and Greece. Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

Other countries are working to evacuate, monitor and isolate former Hondius passengers. A plane carrying 14 Spanish passengers took off for Madrid on Sunday, while French, Canadian and British passengers were also flown back to their countries. Upon arrival at each facility, each individual will undergo clinical assessment and receive appropriate care and support based on their condition. The Dutch-flagged Hondius departed Argentina on April 1 with almost 150 on board on a nature sightseeing mission via some of the world's most remote points. As for the Hondius itself, the ship has refueled ahead of a planned journey back to the Netherlands with 30 on board.