A 32-year-old woman in Alicante, southeastern Spain, is being tested for hantavirus after developing symptoms consistent with the infection, health officials said.

According to Spanish authorities, the woman was on the same flight as a passenger linked to a deadly outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has already resulted in multiple deaths and infections.

She is currently experiencing mild respiratory symptoms and has been admitted to hospital in Alicante for testing, with results expected within 24 to 48 hours.

Officials said she was seated two rows behind the infected passenger during a brief encounter on the flight from Johannesburg.

Tracing contacts underway

Health authorities in the Valencia region have begun tracing individuals who may have been in contact with the woman in recent days as a precautionary measure.

Officials noted that the outbreak strain identified on the cruise ship is the Andes variant of hantavirus, which can in rare cases spread between humans through close…