Hantavirus-hit Cruise Ship Arrives at Rotterdam Port as Final Destination
Dutch-flagged MV Hondius reaches Rotterdam with a skeleton crew, where quarantine arrangements are prepared for those on board.
The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, a luxury liner at the center of an outbreak of hantavirus, arrived at the Dutch port of Rotterdam on Monday.
Marine tracking sites confirmed the vessel's arrival as authorities prepared quarantine arrangements for the 23 crew members and two medical staff remaining on board.
The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, was initially carrying around 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 2.
Since then, three people — a Dutch couple and a German national — have died due to the outbreak.
The Hondius had been stranded off Cape Verde, its intended final destination, earlier this month after authorities barred passengers from going ashore due to concerns about the outbreak.
In response, the WHO and the EU coordinated with Spain to manage the evacuation at the Canary Islands.
After the evacuation, the ship departed for Rotterdam with a skeleton crew and two additional medical staff aboard.
Local port authorities have set up quarantine facilities for some of the non-Dutch crew, though it remains unclear whether they will remain there for the full recommended 42-day quarantine period.
The vessel itself is also scheduled to undergo disinfection procedures.
Hantavirus is primarily spread through contact with infected rodents but can be transmitted between humans in rare cases after prolonged close contact.
The incubation period typically lasts around six weeks.
To date, the current outbreak involves the Andes virus strain, which has been present in Argentina and Chile for many years.
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, samples from the ship have not shown any significant variations in the virus.
As of May 15, there were 10 WHO-reported cases, including eight confirmed and two probable ones.
The WHO recommends monitoring and quarantining high-risk contacts for 42 days after exposure to the virus, while low-risk contacts should self-monitor and seek medical care if symptoms develop.
Marine tracking sites confirmed the vessel's arrival as authorities prepared quarantine arrangements for the 23 crew members and two medical staff remaining on board.
The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, was initially carrying around 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 2.
Since then, three people — a Dutch couple and a German national — have died due to the outbreak.
The Hondius had been stranded off Cape Verde, its intended final destination, earlier this month after authorities barred passengers from going ashore due to concerns about the outbreak.
In response, the WHO and the EU coordinated with Spain to manage the evacuation at the Canary Islands.
After the evacuation, the ship departed for Rotterdam with a skeleton crew and two additional medical staff aboard.
Local port authorities have set up quarantine facilities for some of the non-Dutch crew, though it remains unclear whether they will remain there for the full recommended 42-day quarantine period.
The vessel itself is also scheduled to undergo disinfection procedures.
Hantavirus is primarily spread through contact with infected rodents but can be transmitted between humans in rare cases after prolonged close contact.
The incubation period typically lasts around six weeks.
To date, the current outbreak involves the Andes virus strain, which has been present in Argentina and Chile for many years.
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, samples from the ship have not shown any significant variations in the virus.
As of May 15, there were 10 WHO-reported cases, including eight confirmed and two probable ones.
The WHO recommends monitoring and quarantining high-risk contacts for 42 days after exposure to the virus, while low-risk contacts should self-monitor and seek medical care if symptoms develop.
