SPANISH health authorities are urgently searching for a South African tourist who may have been exposed to the deadly hantavirus before spending a week in Barcelona.
The woman shared a flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam with a Dutch woman who died from the virus shortly after.
Her current whereabouts and health status remain an absolute mystery.
The Ministry of Health confirmed officials have no information on whether she has visited a medical centre or is showing symptoms.
It is assumed the tourist has since returned to South Africa, but she is being actively hunted by health officials due to her close proximity to the Dutch victim.
The pair travelled on the flight between before the Dutch woman’s health deteriorated.
Another passenger from Alicante was also seated near the infected woman on the same flight.
Health authorities confirmed the 32-year-old was hospitalised as a precautionary measure after the patient displayed symptoms.Â
The alert was issued after the Alicante resident developed mild respiratory symptoms.
Health secretary Javier Padilla said in a press conference on Friday that the woman travelled on the same flight as the deceased passenger.
Meanwhile, a flight attendant who was initially hospitalised with compatible symptoms has officially tested negative for the virus.
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