So far only two Spaniards have tested positive for Hantavirus, but several people remain in isolation
The first positive case of hantavirus among the 13 Spaniards who were quarantined at the Gómez Ulla military hospital has already overcome the disease and, writes El País. The second infected person remains in an isolation unit, with a slight fever, and the other 11 Spaniards who were traveling on the MV Hondius cruise are awaiting a final negative PCR test to go into home isolation from Saturday.
The Ministry of Health approved, this Thursday, a protocol to allow people with positive results to be discharged when they overcome the infection. To do this, it is necessary to remain without symptoms compatible with the disease for at least three days and obtain two negative results in PCR tests carried out on urine and oropharyngeal exudate, separated by a minimum interval of 48 hours, something that has already happened in the patient who was discharged.
As explained by the Ministry of Health in a statement, the most recent studies on the Andes strain of hantavirus show that the detection of viral RNA in the blood can persist for a prolonged period after clinical recovery: “For this reason, the discharge criteria are not based exclusively on the negativity of the blood PCR, but on the absence of symptoms and the negativity of biological samples more directly related to the possible elimination of the virus, such as urine and oropharyngeal exudate”, highlights the statement.
Consequently, the protocol expressly provides that some people may continue to have a positive blood PCR test result after being discharged from hospital. “The available scientific evidence indicates that this persistence of the viral genetic material may continue after clinical recovery, without it having been demonstrated that this represents a risk of transmitting the disease. In these cases, they will continue to be under clinical monitoring for six months to monitor their evolution, detect possible sequelae and carry out periodic controls until the test becomes negative”, explains the ministry.
This same procedure will be applied to the other person who tested positive, who is isolated with a low-grade fever. Until now, he was perfectly well, but this Thursday he developed mild symptoms.
