One of the 17 Americans evacuated from the infamous hantavirus cruise has tested positive for the disease, while another has 'mild symptoms,' the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Sunday night.
While at least six Americans were being monitored for the disease related to the cruise, this is the first confirmed case of the hantavirus from the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius.
As the 17 remaining US citizens on the ship were being transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for observation, HHS confirmed two of the passengers have been isolated in biocontainment units on the evacuation plane.
'One passenger currently has mild symptoms and another passenger tested mildly PCR positive for the Andes virus,' they said.
'As of now, the airlift will transport passengers to the ASPR Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska before taking the passenger with mild symptoms to a second RESPTC at its final destination.'
Each of the 17 Americans will be clinically assessed and cared for based on their condition, HHS added.
This is a developing story.
