A French passenger from hantavirus-hit ship has tested positive for the virus
French Authorities Respond to Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship
PARIS, May 11 (Reuters) - A French passenger who was on a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the virus and her condition is deteriorating, French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said on Monday.
Details of the Infected Passenger and Contact Tracing
The passenger was among five French people who were on the ship. The four other passengers tested negative but will be re-tested, she told France Inter radio, adding that so far French authorities have traced 22 contact cases.
Measures to Break Virus Transmission Chains
"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," she said.
Government Actions and Preparedness
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu will hold a meeting on the hantavirus crisis later today.
France’s Readiness for Potential Crisis
Asked if France had enough masks and tests to cope with a potential crisis, Rist said: "Yes, France is ready."
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon;Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)
