PARIS (AP) 鈥� France鈥檚 Pasteur Institute said it has fully sequenced from the MV Hondius cruise ship and found that it matched viruses already known in South America, with no evidence so far of new characteristics that would make it
鈥淭he analyzed virus corresponds to the viruses already known and monitored in South America,鈥� Health Minister St茅phanie Rist said Friday on X. 鈥淎t this stage, no element suggests the emergence鈥� of a form of the virus that could be more transmissible or more dangerous, she said.
Pasteur said genomic analysis confirmed that the virus found in the French passenger matched the virus detected in and closely resembled known Andes virus samples circulating in South America.
鈥淭his sequencing work allows us to better understand the virus and to ensure close health monitoring,鈥� Rist said. She added that the data would be shared with the international scientific community.
Pasteur said the viruses detected in patients from the ship were identical to each other and about 97% similar to some Andes viruses circulating in South America, including those identified in rodents. Jean-Claude Manuguerra, who heads Pasteur鈥檚 Environment and Infectious Risk unit, said the remaining variation appeared to reflect natural viral variation and did not seem to affect the characteristics of the virus detected among travelers.
The French passenger tested positive after traveling aboard the MV Hondius and has been treated in Paris. French authorities previously said she was in serious condition.
The outbreak on the ship 11 cases, nine of which have been confirmed. Three people on the cruise died, including a who health officials believe were the first exposed to the virus while visiting South America.
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