Last passengers leave virus-hit cruise ship as three more test positive

The final passengers have disembarked from the MV Hondius, a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak, as authorities confirmed three additional positive cases linked to the virus. The ship departed Tenerife for the Netherlands after its last six passengers—four Australians, one Briton, and one New Zealander—along with some crew members, left the vessel. To date, seven confirmed hantavirus cases have been linked to the ship, with two deaths among passengers confirmed to have contracted the virus. Several other infected individuals, including nationals from the United States, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, are currently in isolation or receiving treatment in various countries. The hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has prompted extensive health measures and repatriation efforts. Seventeen Filipino crew members arrived in the Netherlands for medical testing and quarantine, joining others who had disembarked earlier. The Philippine Embassy confirmed that 38 Filipino crew members will eventually be repatriated. Meanwhile, Ukrainian crew members remaining on board are assisting with the ship’s transfer to the Netherlands and will quarantine upon arrival, with no reported symptoms. The ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, reported that 27 individuals, including crew and medical staff from multiple countries, remain on board. Hantaviruses are typically transmitted by rodents, but the Andes strain involved in this outbreak is known for possible human-to-human transmission. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, gastrointestinal distress, and respiratory issues. Despite the severity of the virus and the confirmed cases, health officials maintain that the risk of a widespread outbreak remains very low. The World Health Organization continues to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing containment and quarantine protocols. Over 90 passengers have been repatriated from the MV Hondius in recent days, with some, including Canadian nationals, undergoing self-isolation and health monitoring after returning home. The international response highlights the challenges of managing infectious diseases on cruise ships, where close quarters and international travel can complicate containment efforts. The ongoing situation underscores the importance of vigilance and coordination in preventing further spread of rare but serious viruses like hantavirus.