The luxury liner MV Hondius, at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak, has arrived in the Dutch port of Rotterdam. Authorities were prepared with quarantine arrangements for the remaining crew and medical staff onboard.
Initially carrying around 150 passengers and crew from 23 different countries, the Dutch-flagged vessel reported a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses to the World Health Organization on May 2. Since then, the outbreak has claimed the lives of three individuals, including a Dutch couple and a German national.
After being stranded off Cape Verde earlier this month, the ship was unable to allow passengers ashore due to the outbreak. Following interventions from the WHO and the European Union, Spain was tasked with managing an evacuation at the Canary Islands. The Hondius then set sail for Rotterdam with a reduced crew and two additional medical personnel.
Upon arrival, local port authorities established quarantine facilities for some of the non-Dutch crew members. It remains uncertain whether these individuals will undergo the full recommended 42-day quarantine period. Plans are in place for the ship to undergo thorough disinfection.
Hantavirus, primarily spread by rodents, can occasionally be transmitted between humans under specific circumstances, typically requiring prolonged, close contact. The incubation period for the virus can extend up to six weeks.
Affected crew members, passengers who disembarked earlier, and others in contact with them have been quarantined in various countries across the globe. The current outbreak is linked to the Andes virus, which has been prevalent in Argentina and Chile for many years. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, samples taken from the ship show no significant variations in the virus.
As of May 15, the WHO revised its case count to 10, down from 11, after a U.S. case tested negative. The current tally includes eight confirmed cases and two probable ones, along with the three fatalities. The WHO recommends monitoring and quarantining high-risk contacts for 42 days following exposure, while advising those with lower risk to self-monitor and seek medical attention if symptoms arise.
