Hantavirus outbreak on MV Hondius as Spain confirms a positive passenger test

Spain’s health ministry said on Tuesday that one Spanish passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius has tested positive for hantavirus. The World Health Organisation said it has confirmed nine cases linked to the ship. Three people who were on the cruise have died. Officials said there is no cure or vaccine, but early care can improve survival.

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The newly confirmed Spanish case was placed in quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid. Thirteen other Spanish nationals evacuated on Sunday were also staying there. Those 13 people tested negative for the virus, according to the ministry. The WHO said all reported cases worldwide are among the ship’s passengers or crew.

MV Hondius hantavirus cases and WHO updates

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, said 11 cases reported worldwide involve the MV Hondius. He said nine were confirmed as Andes virus infections, within the hantavirus family. Two cases were suspected but not confirmed. He said the numbers barely changed over the past week due to work by governments and partners.

"At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,\" Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. \"but of course the situation could change, and given the long incubation period of the virus, its possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.\" Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also advised 42 days of quarantine for returning passengers.

The WHO said it cannot compel countries to follow its advice. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said different governments may monitor symptom-free passengers in different ways. Health authorities described this as the first hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. Hantavirus often spreads through rodent droppings and rarely passes between people.

MV Hondius evacuation and quarantine measures

Oceanwide Expeditions said the evacuation from the MV Hondius was completed on Monday night. In total, 87 passengers and 35 crew were escorted ashore in Tenerife. Personnel wore full-body protective gear and breathing masks. After that, remaining crew took on supplies and began sailing to Rotterdam for cleaning and disinfection.

Two aircraft arrived overnight in Eindhoven in the southern Netherlands. One flight carried 19 crew members and three medics. Dutch nationals went home to quarantine. Others, including 17 crew members from the Philippines, were sent to a quarantine facility arranged by Dutch health authorities.

A second aircraft later landed in Eindhoven, chartered by Australian authorities. The Dutch foreign ministry said it carried six passengers. They were four Australians, one person from New Zealand, and a British national living in Australia. The ministry said they would quarantine near the airport and travel towards Australia when possible.

MV Hondius hantavirus response in hospitals

In the Netherlands, Radboud University Medical Centre said 12 staff must quarantine for six weeks. The hospital said staff incorrectly handled bodily fluids from a patient. It described the infection risk as low. The passenger was received in Nijmegen last week after an evacuation flight and later tested positive for hantavirus.

The Dutch hospital said blood and urine should have been managed under stricter procedures. In France, a woman evacuated from the ship stayed in intensive care in stable condition in a Paris hospital. The French government planned two emergency hantavirus meetings on Tuesday, the prime minister said.

Health officials said the Andes virus may spread between people in rare cases. Symptoms can include fever, chills and muscle aches. The WHO said symptoms usually appear between one and eight weeks after exposure. Authorities continued quarantine and monitoring steps while the ship returned to the Netherlands for disinfection.

With inputs from PTI