Growing concern in Madrid over possible Spanish travellers exposed to hantavirus on a polar cruise

The Madrid Health Councillor, Fátima Matute, has sent a letter to Minister Mónica García requesting detailed information about possible Spanish passengers who may have been on board with the affected group, even if they are no longer on the ship. The request comes after several media outlets in Navarra reported that nine travellers from Navarra may have coincided with some of those affected during the trip at the beginning of April.

Madrid insists on the need to speed up preventive tracing and calls for Sanidad Exterior to contact the shipping company Oceanwide Expeditions directly to identify everyone who shared enclosed spaces or activities with the confirmed cases. The main concern is for those who have already returned to Spain and may have travelled between different autonomous communities.

Health authorities remind the public that the risk to the general population remains low and that hantavirus is not transmitted through the air like other respiratory viruses. Nevertheless, monitoring travellers and close contacts is considered key to preventing complications and adapting health protocols if necessary.

Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious infection that can cause severe respiratory complications and may require hospitalisation. The virus is usually transmitted through contact with the droppings, saliva, or urine of infected rodents, and some outbreaks recorded in the Americas have shown a high mortality rate. Although authorities stress that the risk of infection for the general population is low, tracing and isolation protocols remain essential to detect possible cases in time and prevent the outbreak from spreading.