Paris, France. A French passenger from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak has tested positive and her condition is deteriorating, Health Minister Stephanie Rist said on Monday.
Passenger tests and contact tracing
Rist said 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 French authorities have so far traced 22 contact cases.
Government response and isolation measures
Rist said the priority was to break transmission chains. She said the government, together with the prime minister, was acting through a decree issued on Monday to strengthen isolation measures for contact cases and protect the population.
Crisis meeting and preparedness
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is due to hold a meeting on the hantavirus crisis later on Monday. Asked whether France has enough masks and tests to cope with a potential crisis, Rist said France was ready.
What steps would you expect authorities to take to limit transmission among identified contact cases?