Hantavirus: 22 French contacts of deceased Dutch woman under observation

© picture alliance / MAXPPP | David Brunet

The 22 French close contacts of the Dutch woman who died of the hantavirus have all been hospitalized for observation. The French Ministry of Health announced this on Wednesday.

"Twenty-two contact cases have been identified in France," French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist confirmed at a press conference. "All of them have been contacted, tested and hospitalized or are currently being hospitalized, and are under strict medical monitoring."

The eight French citizens who flew with the sick passenger from the island of St. Helena to Johannesburg on April 25 are all in Paris hospitals.

The remaining 14 close contacts were on the flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam, but they were at "a lower level of risk, according to the minister, since although there was an infected passenger on board, he was quickly disembarked, limiting the exposure of the passengers." They were admitted to hospitals across France and must remain in the hospital for at least 14 days.

"At present, the positive cases recorded are exclusively passengers from the MV Hondius," the minister said. "There are no indications that the virus is spreading on French territory."

Picture: © picture alliance / MAXPPP | David Brunet