Where did the hantavirus outbreak start, and where has it spread?

A United States citizen who was on the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius cruise ship is the latest to test positive for the virus while a French traveller has developed symptoms as the ship is being evacuated and passengers are returning to their home countries. Passengers began flying home on military and government planes after the ship anchored near Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, on Sunday. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list At least eight people who were on board the ship had earlier been confirmed or were suspected of having contracted the hantavirus. Three people have died while at least one person is in intensive care. Previously, officials from the Spanish Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions had said none of the more than 140 people who had been on board the MV Hondius was showing symptoms of the virus, but that has since changed. As passengers are being flown home for testing and monitoring, health officials are racing to determine where and how the outbreak may have started. There are no conclusive answers yet, but the trail has led investigators to Argentina, from which the MV Hondius departed on April 1. …