Hantavirus-hit cruise ship docks in the Netherlands | Health News
Cruise Ship Docking in Rotterdam After Hantavirus Outbreak
The MV Hondius has docked in Rotterdam, Netherlands, following a hantavirus outbreak that resulted in the deaths of three passengers, including a Dutch couple believed to be the first infected during a trip to South America.
The ship arrived on Monday carrying 25 crew members and two medical personnel, after disembarking all passengers at other locations. According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the vessel’s operator, no crew members aboard are currently displaying symptoms of the virus.
Nearby the dock, health authorities established white containers as part of their quarantine measures. Crew members unable to return home will be placed in these containers for isolation as a precaution.
Recent reports indicate that there were at least 11 confirmed cases of infection among passengers and crew, with nine cases validated. The Public Health Agency of Canada reported that one of four Canadians who had been in isolation tested positive for the virus on Sunday and stated it would inform the World Health Organization (WHO) about the case.
As of late Sunday, the WHO assessed the outbreak risk as “low.” The agency noted that while additional cases might arise among those exposed prior to containment, the potential for further transmission is expected to decline due to disembarkation and implemented control measures.
The Dutch Ministry of Health has confirmed that the crew members who cannot return to their home countries will remain in quarantine in the Netherlands. Approximately two dozen other passengers and crew members have already undergone quarantine in the country after arriving on various flights over the past two weeks.
Once all individuals from the MV Hondius have disembarked, the ship will undergo decontamination following Dutch public health protocols. The Health Ministry assured that protective measures are in place to prevent cleaners from needing to quarantine following the cleaning process.
Before the ship is cleared to sail again, public health officials will conduct a thorough inspection. Notably, this outbreak marks the first known instance of hantavirus on a cruise ship.
Additionally, France’s Pasteur Institute announced on Saturday that it has fully sequenced the Andes virus found in a French passenger from the Hondius and confirmed it matches known strains from South America, with no evidence of genetic variations that would increase transmissibility or enhance severity.
