The cruise ship MV Hondius, which experienced a dangerous hantavirus outbreak, arrived today, Monday (18/5) at the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. According to maritime websites, Dutch authorities are already preparing quarantine conditions for the 23 crew members and two medical staff who remain onboard.
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Hantavirus: MV Hondius cruise ship in Rotterdam for disinfection
The Dutch-flagged vessel was carrying approximately 150 passengers and crew from 23 different nationalities when the World Health Organization (WHO) was notified on May 2 about the outbreak of the serious respiratory disease. So far, the virus has claimed three lives – a Dutch couple and a German national.
The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, had been stranded off Cape Verde, which was its scheduled final destination, earlier this month after authorities refused to allow those onboard to disembark due to the viral outbreak. The WHO and EU requested Spain to manage the evacuation of its passengers and crew members to the Canary Islands, after which the ship departed for Rotterdam with 23 crew members and two medical staff.
Port authorities in Rotterdam announced they have set up quarantine facilities for some non-Dutch crew members, although it’s currently unclear whether they will remain there for the entire 42-day quarantine period. The ship is scheduled to undergo disinfection.
WHO recommends monitoring and quarantine for high-risk contacts
Hantavirus is transmitted primarily by rodents, but in rare cases and after prolonged, close contact, it can spread from human to human. Its incubation period can last approximately six weeks.
Crew members and passengers who have already left the ship, as well as people who came into contact with them, have been quarantined in various countries worldwide.
This hantavirus outbreak involves the so-called Andes strain, which has been circulating for decades in Argentina and Chile. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, samples taken from the ship showed no significant mutation of the virus.
On Friday, the WHO revised downward to 10 from 11 the number of recorded cases, after a case in the US that had an unclear diagnosis tested negative.
According to the WHO, as of May 15, 10 cases had been recorded – 8 confirmed and 2 probable – including three deaths. The World Health Organization recommends monitoring and quarantining high-risk contacts for 42 days after exposure, while for low-risk contacts it recommends self-monitoring and seeking medical care if symptoms appear.
