The Hondius cruise expedition vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, has docked in Rotterdam, effectively concluding its journey following the identification of hantavirus cases on board.
The ship arrived in the morning, initiating a phased disembarkation of passengers and crew. Some individuals were directed to specialized quarantine facilities for medical monitoring, with evacuees representing multiple nationalities, including Ukrainian citizens.
Evacuated passengers in Rotterdam:
- 17 Filipinos;
- 3 Ukrainians;
- 2 Dutch citizens.
Remaining on board the Hondius:
- 1 Polish citizen;
- 1 Russian citizen;
- 1 Ukrainian citizen;
- 2 Dutch citizens.
In total, over twenty crew members and medical staff were evacuated, while some individuals remained on the vessel pending the completion of all necessary procedures.
The EWS Group, a company specializing in biological risk decontamination, has been engaged to carry out disinfection of the ship. This firm has experience in cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The disinfection process is expected to take several days, after which the vessel may resume operations.
The operator has announced the cancellation of upcoming voyages to ensure thorough sanitation procedures and passenger safety. Future trips are scheduled to proceed as planned following the completion of quarantine measures and inspections.
Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius
On May 4, reports emerged that three individuals aboard the MV Hondius had died due to a hantavirus outbreak while in the Atlantic Ocean.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the source of the infection may have been a Dutch couple who contracted the virus in South America. Following their illness, they traveled, potentially spreading the virus among other passengers. Both individuals later succumbed to the illness.
There were 149 passengers on board, representing 23 different nationalities. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, five of these individuals were Ukrainian. Currently, no deterioration in their health has been reported.
Subsequently, Spanish authorities agreed to accept the ship at the Canary Islands; however, the archipelago’s government head, Fernando Clavijo, expressed opposition to this decision.
Understanding Hantaviruses
Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause severe health issues in humans, including damage to the lungs, heart, and kidneys. Rodents are known carriers of this infection. The World Health Organization has indicated that certain strains of the virus can have a mortality rate of up to 50%.
According to the WHO, humans typically contract the virus through contact with the urine, saliva, or feces of infected rodents. The virus can also enter the body through inhalation of contaminated dust in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
The Hondius cruise ship has returned to Rotterdam after a hantavirus outbreak resulted in multiple evacuations. The vessel will undergo disinfection before resuming operations.