World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the captain and most crew members of the Hantavirus-affected ship have completed their quarantine. Over 600 contacts of the affected individuals have been traced across 33 countries and territories, with more than 80% finishing their 42-day follow-up period. The current tally stands at 13 cases, including three fatalities, with efforts underway to bring the outbreak to a close.
Ghebreyesus expressed gratitude towards Captain Jan Dobrogowski and the crew of MV Hondius for their efforts in ensuring passenger safety. He also acknowledged the crucial roles played by Spain, the Netherlands, Cabo Verde, South Africa, and the UK in responding to the situation. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that all American citizens potentially exposed to the virus on the M/V Hondius have completed their 42-day monitoring period.
Hantavirus, a rare yet severe disease primarily spread through contact with infected rodents, has limited human-to-human transmission depending on the strain. The outbreak was first reported on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius in the Atlantic Ocean on May 2. WHO has assessed the overall risk to the public as low and recommended that all evacuated passengers undergo active health monitoring for 42 days post their last exposure date, either in designated facilities or at home.
Following the incident, MV Hondius docked at the Dutch port of Rotterdam on May 18 for disinfection, marking the end of its voyage. Australian authorities extended the quarantine of six cruise passengers on May 28 as a precautionary measure after two additional hantavirus cases were confirmed abroad, involving a crew member and a passenger from the MV Hondius.
