France confirms first national hantavirus case: woman tested positive after symptom onset on May 10 repatriation flight; in ICU after overnight deterioration

CBC News / AP (May 11 2026): French Health Minister Stephanie Rist on France-Inter (French public broadcaster): 'A French woman also tested positive for hantavirus, and her health worsened in the hospital overnight.' Rist confirmed 'the woman was among five French passengers repatriated Sunday [May 10] to Paris and developed symptoms on the flight.' Patient admitted to ICU; Reuters via Al Jazeera reported her 'condition was deteriorating'. Euronews May 12 framing later described her as in ICU in 'stable condition' after the overnight worsening; Rist on France-Inter: 'What is key is to act at the start and break the virus transmission chains.' Case is one of five French passengers in the final repatriation cohort; the remaining four are under monitoring.

Cases

1

Deaths

0

Author

CBC News (AP byline)

Disease

hantavirus