90-Second Read: Oregon doctor on Hantavirus cruise speaks from containment unit after positive test

An Oregon doctor who was on the Hantavirus-struck cruise ship MV Hondius has spoken out after testing positive for the disease himself. Kornfeld, currently at a biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, opened up about how he was feeling after his "faint" positive result. In a separate development, Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed on Tuesday it was investigating a Hantavirus case, but not one linked to the cruise ship outbreak.

Dr Stephen Kornfeld, a retired oncologist, was onboard as a civilian but offered his help to the ship's doctor when passengers became sick. It's really amazing how quickly time flies." Explaining how he first became ill, the doctor said: "Early in April, maybe the 10th or so, a number of us onboard came down with what felt like a flu-like illness or the ship's flu. And now, in retrospect, there is a question: could it have been Hantavirus?

The samples were frozen, flown to the Netherlands and tested for Hantavirus. Two labs conducted tests, with one result being negative and the other being "faintly positive." He is awaiting the results of further tests but told the network he feels "great" currently. The Andes strain, which is responsible for the cruise outbreak, can spread from person to person in rare cases. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground.