UPDATE: The United States confirms the absence of cases of infection after new tests
International Briefing:
International observers are closely monitoring the latest developments as new information continues to emerge.
American health authorities announced Thursday that the American passenger of the cruise ship MV Hondius, initially considered positive for hantavirus, was ultimately negative after new tests carried out in the United States. This reassessment comes as several people remain monitored after the outbreak of infection detected on board the boat. The Nebraska Medical Center, where the man has been hospitalized since his repatriation, confirmed that the latest results had ruled out any contamination. “Both tests, by PCR and by serology, are negative,” said Taylor Wilson, communications manager of the establishment. The American authorities had decided on Wednesday to carry out new tests after initial results considered “inconclusive”, one laboratory having detected a positive result while another had concluded with a negative test. Currently no cases in the United StatesAccording to Taylor Wilson, “we only had the results this morning”. The passenger, who showed no symptoms, has since left the biological containment unit in which he was placed upon arrival to join the service welcoming fifteen other Americans repatriated from the ship. Two other passengers evacuated this weekend are also hospitalized in Atlanta, Georgia. During an exchange with the press on Thursday, David Fitter, head of the hantavirus response at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), affirmed that “there are currently no cases in the United States”. He specified that 41 people nevertheless remained followed in the context of this case linked to the MV Hondius. People exposed to isolation for 42 days These people include the 18 passengers recently repatriated to the United States, including an American-British, but also former travelers who left the ship before the identification of the outbreak as well as several contact cases. According to David Fitter, some “may have been exposed while traveling, in particular on flights where a symptomatic case was present”, evoking in particular the flight between Saint Helena and Johannesburg taken by an infected Dutch passenger, who died on April 26. Our file on hantavirus The 41 people concerned must isolate themselves for 42 days, at home or in specialized medical structures depending on their situation. Three individuals were also transferred to a university hospital in Kansas for medical monitoring, local authorities said. Unlike France, which has chosen to screen all contact cases, the American authorities only recommend tests in the presence of symptoms. The management of this situation has also raised questions in the United States, in particular due to the absence of compulsory quarantine and communication difficulties noted by several observers.
What Happens Next:
Analysts believe this development may influence future diplomatic, political, or economic discussions internationally.
Observers believe further developments could significantly shape the direction of this story in the near future.
More details may emerge as official sources continue releasing new information.
Source: This article was originally published by 20Minutes – Actu Monde and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
Read the original article here.