The World Health Organization has confirmed 11 hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, including nine confirmed infections with the Andes strain of the virus and two suspected cases, as health authorities continue to monitor passengers and crew evacuated from the vessel.
The outbreak has already claimed three lives, while several passengers remain in quarantine or medical care across Europe.
New case confirmed in Spain
Spain’s health ministry confirmed on Tuesday (12 May) that a Spanish passenger evacuated from the ship had tested positive for hantavirus.
The person is currently quarantined at a military hospital in Madrid, along with 13 other Spanish nationals evacuated from the vessel. Authorities said the remaining passengers tested negative.
The WHO says there is no evidence yet of a wider outbreak
“These numbers have changed little over the past week thanks to the governments of many countries and partners,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during an appearance in Madrid.
He added: “At the moment there is no indication that we will see the start of a larger outbreak.”
However, he warned that the situation could still evolve due to the long incubation period of the virus.
“Given the long incubation period of the virus, it is possible that we will see more cases in the coming weeks,” he said.
Evacuation of cruise ship completed
The evacuation of the MV Hondius is now complete.
A total of 87 passengers and 35 crew members were escorted from the vessel to shore in Tenerife by rescue workers wearing full-body protective suits and breathing masks.
After the evacuation, the ship began sailing back to the Netherlands, where it will undergo cleaning and disinfection, according to operator Oceanwide Expeditions.
International quarantine measures are in place
Two planes with evacuated passengers and crew arrived in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, during the night of today.
One flight carried 19 crew members and three medics. The Dutch nationals were sent home for quarantine, while the rest of the crew, including 17 from the Philippines, were taken to a government quarantine facility.
The second plane, chartered by the Australian authorities, was carrying six passengers, including four Australians, one New Zealander and one British national resident in Australia.
Dutch authorities said the passengers would remain in quarantine near the airport before continuing their journey.
Dutch hospital staff ordered quarantine
Twelve employees of the Radboud University Medical Center have been ordered to quarantine for six weeks after improperly handling the bodily fluids of a hantavirus patient.
The hospital said the risk of infection remains low, but called the quarantine order a precautionary measure.
“Blood and urine from the patient should have been handled according to a stricter procedure,” the hospital said in a statement.
The infected patient arrived in the Netherlands on one of the evacuation flights from a cruise ship.
The French patient remains in intensive care
In Paris, a French passenger evacuated from the ship remained in the intensive care unit, but was said to be in a stable condition.
French authorities held two emergency cabinet meetings on Tuesday to discuss the outbreak and response measures.
The Andes virus is a cause for concern
Health officials say this is the first recorded outbreak of hantavirus on board a cruise ship.
Hantavirus infections are usually spread through exposure to rodent droppings and are not usually transmitted between humans. However, the Andes virus strain associated with the MV Hondius outbreak has previously demonstrated limited human-to-human transmissibility.
Symptoms can include fever, chills and muscle aches and can appear between one and eight weeks after exposure.
The WHO recommends a 42-day quarantine
Tedros urged all returning travelers to remain in quarantine for 42 days either at home or in designated facilities.
He noted that enforcement of quarantine measures will depend on national governments.
The WHO cannot enforce its guidelines, Tedros said, adding that countries can adopt different monitoring strategies for travelers who do not show symptoms.
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