A KLM air stewardess has been hospitalised with hantavirus symptoms, according to the ministry of health. The woman was briefly in contact with one of the Dutch people that died after contracting the virus late last month.

That person had boarded a KLM flight in South Africa but was deemed too ill to fly and removed from the plane shortly after.

The flight attendant is said to have mild symptoms and is in isolation at Amsterdam UMC, where she is being tested for the virus.

Meanwhile, a second airplane carrying a patient with hantavirus symptoms has landed at Schiphol airport after being delayed in Gran Canaria due to technical issues.

Cruise ship returning

The cruise ship Hondius, where the outbreak began, departed from the coast of Cape Verde last night and is en route to the Canary Island of Tenerife.

It is expected to dock there on Saturday, after which the remaining passengers who have no symptoms can disembark.

The ship has a total 150 people, 10 of whom have Dutch nationality, according to foreign affairs minister Tom Berendsen.