French woman evacuated from cruise ship tests positive for hantavirus

PARIS (AP) — A French woman evacuated from a cruise ship has tested positive for hantavirus and her health worsened in the hospital overnight, French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said Monday.

The woman was among five French passengers repatriated Sunday to Paris from the MV Hondius. She developed symptoms on the flight to Paris, Rist told public broadcaster France-Inter.

Passengers from the ship began flying home aboard military and government planes Sunday after the vessel anchored in the Canary Islands. Personnel in full-body protective gear and breathing masks had escorted the travelers from ship to shore in Tenerife in an effort that was continuing Monday.

The World Health Organization recommended close monitoring of the former passengers, and many countries quarantined them.

U.S. officials said late Sunday that one American among the 17 being flown to Nebraska tested positive for hantavirus but has no symptoms.