NETHERLANDS: Countries around the world have intensified monitoring and tracing of passengers from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak, following efforts to prevent further spread of the disease.
The outbreak occurred aboard the MV Hondius, where three people—a Dutch couple and a German national—died. In total, five confirmed infections have been reported, along with three additional suspected cases, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Hantavirus is typically transmitted through rodents, but in rare cases, it can spread from person to person. The WHO noted that while some victims were infected with the Andean strain, which has limited human transmission potential, the overall risk to the general public remains low.
All passengers who disembarked in St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean, where the ship stopped on April 24, have been contacted by authorities. The cruise operator said those affected include passengers from at least 12 countries, including seven British citizens and six from the United States. The first confirmed case in this outbreak was identified in early May.
The WHO reiterated that “this is not Covid” and stressed that the situation is different from the coronavirus pandemic. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO director of epidemic and pandemic management, said, “This is not coronavirus, this is a very different virus,” adding, “This is not the same situation we were in six years ago.”
The organisation also said it is preparing step-by-step guidance for passengers who are expected to disembark from the ship when it arrives in the Canary Islands on Saturday or Sunday. These passengers will then travel to their home countries, although none are currently showing symptoms.
Health agencies across multiple countries, including the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have confirmed they are closely monitoring the situation. The CDC said the risk to the American public is currently extremely low.
The Georgia Department of Public Health is monitoring two asymptomatic residents who returned home after disembarking the ship. Similarly, the Arizona Department of Health Services is observing one asymptomatic resident who was also on board.
Reports from The New York Times indicated that authorities in California are also monitoring several residents who had been aboard the vessel. In France, officials confirmed that one citizen had been in contact with an infected individual but is not showing any symptoms.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship’s operator, said it is working to trace all passengers and crew who embarked or disembarked at various stops since March 20. The Dutch couple who died are believed to be among the first confirmed cases in this outbreak and had boarded the ship on April 1.
Dutch airline KLM reported that the woman was removed from a flight in Johannesburg on April 25 due to deteriorating health and later died before reaching the Netherlands. According to RTL, a KLM crew member who had contact with her has been hospitalized in Amsterdam with possible hantavirus symptoms.
Authorities in the Netherlands said crew members and passengers who assisted the deceased woman are being contacted daily for health monitoring. Meanwhile, three patients were evacuated from the ship on Wednesday and taken to hospitals in the Netherlands and Germany for treatment and observation.
One evacuee, expedition guide Martin Anstee, told Sky News he was “doing okay” but said “there are still lots of tests to be done.” The Düsseldorf University Clinic confirmed that the German patient is not yet a confirmed case and is undergoing further testing.
In Switzerland, a patient admitted to hospital on Monday remains stable but is showing symptoms consistent with hantavirus infection. In Denmark, a citizen who was aboard the ship has returned home and has been advised to self-isolate as a precautionary measure.