In Spain, hantavirus contacts who remain asymptomatic and have negative PCR tests will be allowed to complete the final 14 days of the planned 42-day quarantine at home, provided they meet the conditions required to guarantee isolation and health safety. During this period, they will undergo daily checks by public health staff.
The Public Health Commission has recently approved a new protocol for monitoring the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, which in Spain has resulted in 14 passengers being admitted to Gómez Ulla Hospital, one of them testing positive, as well as two women from Alicante and Barcelona who shared a flight with one of the people who died.
The new document sets out the quarantine conditions for the 15 identified contacts, which will last for 42 days. In the meantime, the only confirmed positive case will remain in the High-Level Isolation and Treatment Unit (UATAN) until clinical recovery.
Quarantine will be in hospital for the first 28 days. Transfer to their homes will be carried out by standard medical transport, avoiding the use of public transport. Both the contact and the driver will have to wear FFP2 masks and take particular care with hand hygiene.
