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Hantavirus live updates: Patient in France presenting 'severe form' of virus
The French patient is "in intensive care in a serious condition."
The total number of confirmed and probable cases of hantavirus onboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has risen to 11, including two people confirmed to have died from the virus and one person who remains suspected to have died from the virus.
Passengers disembarked the cruise ship in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, to be transferred to charter flights back to their home countries.
On Monday, 16 American cruise ship passengers arrived at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; 15 are in the quarantine unit and one person who tested positive is in the biocontainment unit, officials said. Two other American cruise ship passengers were flown to Atlanta for "further assessment and care," officials said.
Key Headlines
- American quarantining in Nebraska shares video tour of his room
- Passengers in Nebraska undergoing in-depth interviews, symptom monitoring
- 2 people being monitored in Seattle area
- 25 crew, 2 medical staff remain on ship; no one has symptoms
- Positive patient in France presenting 'severe form,' in 'serious condition'
What is hantavirus and how does it spread?
Here's what you need to know about hantavirus including what it is, how it spreads, how it's treated and if there are any prevention methods:
What is hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause serious illnesses and death, according to the CDC.
How does hantavirus spread?
Hantaviruses may also spread from person to person, but that also is rare and only suspected for one subtype from South America, according to the WHO.
Read more about hantavirus here.
Trump on hantavirus: 'It should be fine'
President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on Thursday evening, said he has been briefed about the hantavirus cases tied to the MV Hondius cruise ship.
"It should be fine. We hope," Trump said.
He indicated his administration would be issuing a "full report" on Friday, but did not provide any further details.
“It's very much -- we hope -- under control. It was the ship, and I think we're going to make a full report about it tomorrow," Trump said. "We have a lot of people, a lot of great people, are studying it."
Asked if Americans should be concerned the virus may spread, Trump said: "I hope not. I mean, I hope not. We’ll do the best we can."
Congresswoman presses Rubio, CDC for repatriation plan for Americans aboard ship
Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., sent a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya asking them to create a repatriation plan for the 17 citizens aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius.
According to Bynum, a constituent of hers from Bend, Oregon, is among the Americans aboard the ship.
"On Thursday, May 7, my office made contact with a constituent from the district I represent who is currently aboard the ship. The information we received about the conditions facing passengers and crew is deeply alarming. These Americans are trapped in a dangerous and deteriorating public health situation, and they deserve more than passive monitoring or delayed coordination,” Bynum wrote.
The congresswoman urged lawmakers to assess the situation and develop a repatriation plan by the end of the day Thursday.
-ABC News' Beatrice Peterson
Virginia officials monitoring ship passenger who returned to US
Virginia's Department of Health said Thursday that a traveler from their state who was on the MV Hondius returned home in "good health" and is being monitored by public health authorities.
"Our understanding is that fewer than 30 U.S. Citizens were on board the ship. A small number (<5) of other potentially exposed Virginians might be identified in the days ahead," the department said.
"The Virginia Department of Health is monitoring this situation closely and has been in active communication with our federal partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)," the statement said, adding "generally speaking, we believe the risk to the general public to be low.
Virginia's statement brings the total number of U.S. residents currently under monitoring for hantavirus symptoms to at least seven people across five states, including Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas and Virginia.
-ABC News' Chris Barry and Youri Benadjaoud
Spain prepares for 'isolated' evacuations as cruise ship approaches Canary Islands
Virigina Barcones, Spain's head of Emergencies and Civil Protection, provided more details Thursday about its plans for the MV Hondius when it arrives at the Canary Islands Sunday.
"They will arrive at a completely isolated, cordoned-off area. They will board vehicles that are isolated and under guard, and will proceed to a section of the airport that will be completely cordoned off. They will board the aircraft and depart. I am saying this so that the people of the Canary Islands, the men and women living there, can rest assured that there will be absolutely no possibility of contact at any time," she said in a statement.
Barcones added that no one will be allowed to leave the boat unless they are going directly to the airport to return to their home countries.
"The United States has showed its willingness to send a plane to collect its citizens directly. Negotiations with the United Kingdom are also at an advanced stage. During meetings held throughout the day, the U.K. has also expressed its willingness to send a dedicated flight to repatriate its nationals," she said.
-ABC News' William Gretsky