MV Hondius will complete its voyage in Rotterdam after hantavirus outbreak on board
Cruise liner MV Hondius, on board of which a hantavirus outbreak was previously recorded, will arrive at the port of Rotterdam on May 18, where it will complete its voyage.
This is reported by Reuters.
According to the agency, the Dutch authorities are preparing quarantine measures for 25 crew members and two medical workers remaining on the vessel. A full disinfection of the liner is also planned.
Special quarantine facilities have already been prepared for some crew members who do not hold Dutch citizenship. It is still unknown whether they will remain there for the entire recommended 42-day isolation period.
Against the backdrop of MV Hondius’s arrival, some residents of the Netherlands have expressed concern about possible non-compliance with quarantine requirements; however, the majority do not expect a new pandemic to emerge, according to reports.
During the voyage, the vessel carried about 150 passengers and crew members from 23 countries. The World Health Organization first reported the outbreak of infection on MV Hondius on May 2. As of May 15, 10 cases have been registered — eight confirmed and two probable, including three fatalities. Among the deceased are an elderly couple from the Netherlands and a German citizen.
The vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, ran aground near Cape Verde at the beginning of the month, the final destination of the route. Disembarkation of passengers was prohibited by local authorities after the outbreak was detected.
Later, WHO and the EU appealed to Spain to organize the evacuation of passengers via the Canary Islands. After that, MV Hondius headed to Rotterdam with a minimal crew and two additional medical specialists on board.
Experts note that hantavirus is most often transmitted through rodents, but in rare cases human-to-human transmission is possible with prolonged close contact. The incubation period of the disease can last up to six weeks.
Passengers, crew members, and individuals who came into contact with them after disembarkation have been placed in quarantine in several countries around the world.
