Hantavirus-Impacted Cruise Ship Reaches Rotterdam As Its Final Stop Following 3 Fatalities

A cruise liner affected by hantavirus has docked in Rotterdam, as authorities get ready to implement quarantines after three deaths associated with the outbreak.

A luxury cruise liner associated with a hantavirus outbreak docked at the Dutch port city of Rotterdam on Monday, as authorities made preparations for quarantine measures for the remaining crew and medical personnel on board.

Marine tracking sites have confirmed the arrival of the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, which was carrying approximately 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when the outbreak was first reported to the World Health Organization on May 2.

Since the outbreak began, three individuals — a Dutch couple and a German national — have lost their lives.

The ship, managed by Oceanwide Expeditions, had previously been stuck off Cape Verde after officials denied permission for passengers to leave due to the outbreak.

The WHO and the European Union subsequently requested that Spain manage the evacuation at the Canary Islands prior to the ship’s departure to Rotterdam with a diminished crew and two extra medical personnel.

Port authorities indicated that quarantine facilities had been organized for certain non-Dutch crew members, though it was still uncertain if they would fulfill the suggested 42-day quarantine duration in those locations.

Officials indicated that the vessel would be subject to disinfection procedures.

Hantavirus primarily spreads through rodents, though there are rare instances where it can be transmitted between humans during prolonged close contact. The incubation period may extend for as long as 6 weeks.

Passengers, crew members, and close contacts who have already disembarked from the ship are currently under quarantine in various countries.

The ongoing outbreak pertains to the Andes virus strain, which has been present in Argentina and Chile for many years.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that samples collected from the ship indicated no significant variation in the virus.

On Friday, the WHO updated the reported cases, adjusting the count from 11 to 10 following a US case that initially appeared inconclusive but subsequently tested negative.

As of May 15, the WHO reported a total of 10 cases, with 8 confirmed and 2 classified as probable, which includes 3 fatalities.