ROTTERDAM: The Dutch-flagged luxury expedition vessel MV Hondius arrived at the Port of Rotterdam on Monday after being linked to a deadly outbreak of hantavirus during an international voyage, with authorities preparing quarantine arrangements and extensive disinfection procedures for the ship and its remaining crew.
According to marine tracking data, the vessel reached its final destination in the Netherlands after weeks of uncertainty and international coordination involving several countries and health agencies.
The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, had around 150 passengers and crew members from 23 countries on board when cases of severe respiratory illness were first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 2.
Since the outbreak began, three people – a Dutch couple and a German citizen – have died after contracting the virus. The MV Hondius had initially been stranded near Cape Verde earlier this month when local authorities refused permission for passengers to disembark because of health concerns linked to the outbreak.
The incident prompted diplomatic discussions involving multiple governments over responsibility for receiving the vessel and managing the evacuation of passengers, according to Reuters.
Following consultations between the WHO, the European Union and Spanish authorities, passengers were later evacuated through Spain’s Canary Islands. The vessel then departed for Rotterdam carrying only a reduced crew of 23 members along with two additional medical personnel.
Officials at Rotterdam port confirmed that quarantine facilities had been arranged for some foreign crew members still on board. However, authorities have not yet clarified whether those individuals will remain isolated for the entire recommended 42-day monitoring period.
The ship itself is scheduled to undergo a full disinfection process as part of measures aimed at preventing further spread of the virus. Hantavirus is commonly transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their bodily fluids. Human-to-human transmission is considered extremely rare but can occur after prolonged and close exposure, particularly in cases involving the Andes virus strain.
Health experts said the current outbreak has been linked to the Andes virus, a strain known to circulate in parts of Argentina and Chile for many years.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) stated that laboratory analysis of samples taken from the vessel did not indicate any significant mutation or variation in the virus. The WHO recently revised its overall case count after a suspected case in the United States later tested negative.
As of May 15, the WHO had recorded 10 cases connected to the outbreak, including eight confirmed infections and two probable cases. Three of those infected have died. International health authorities continue to monitor passengers, crew members and close contacts across several countries.
The WHO has advised that individuals considered high-risk contacts should remain under quarantine and observation for 42 days following exposure, while lower-risk contacts are being instructed to monitor symptoms and seek medical attention if they become unwell.
