PARIS – A French woman who traveled on a cruise ship experiencing a hantavirus outbreak has contracted the disease and her health is declining, according to French Health Minister Stephanie Rist, who made the announcement Monday.
The infected woman was one of five French citizens aboard the affected vessel. The remaining four French passengers have tested negative for the virus but will undergo additional testing, Rist explained during an interview with France Inter radio. She noted that French health officials have identified 22 individuals who may have been exposed.
“What is key, is to act at the start and break the virus transmission chains. This is what we are doing with the Prime Minister, notably with a decree that came out today that will allow us to strengthen isolation measures for contact cases and to protect the population,” Rist stated.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is scheduled to convene a meeting regarding the hantavirus situation later Monday.
When questioned about France’s preparedness for a potential outbreak, including adequate supplies of masks and testing materials, Rist responded confidently: “Yes, France is ready.”
