90-Second Read: Spanish citizen evacuated from Hantavirus-hit cruise ship tests positive

A Spanish national who was evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius and is isolating at a hospital in Madrid has tested positive of Hantavirus, Spain's Ministry of Health said Monday. Authorities stated that the patient is a close contact identified through the epidemiological monitoring activated after the initial detection of the outbreak on the cruise ship. Health authorities from several countries have been racing to trace and contain the Hantavirus outbreak after three passengers died following MV Hondius' departure from Argentina in April.

After the case was confirmed, the patient was transferred to the hospital's High-Level Isolation Unit (UATAN), where they will remain under specialized medical supervision. Following the confirmation, the health ministry sought to reassure the public, stating that the case was detected within the isolation and control system already in place. Dozens of passengers disembarked at the remote South Atlantic island of Saint Helena in late April while the remaining passengers left the boat at Spain's Canary Islands in May before being flown back to their respective home countries.

Infectious disease experts told CNN last week that passengers on board the ship since early May are within the window when they will be most likely to develop symptoms. It can take as long as six weeks for symptoms to appear, which is why most countries are monitoring passengers for a minimum of 42 days counted from the day they got off the ship. The patient is one of the 14 Spaniards who were aboard the MV Hondius.