The hantavirus outbreak associated with the expedition vessel Hondius remains stable, according to updates issued by the World Health Organization, as health authorities continue monitoring passengers and crew following the incident that drew international attention earlier this month.
The outbreak, which affected the Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions vessel during a voyage after departing Argentina, has resulted in 12 confirmed cases, including 3 fatalities. The ship is currently docked in Rotterdam, where decontamination procedures are underway.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the situation was presently considered stable, while noting that the organization remained vigilant and continued coordinating closely with the relevant national authorities.
All 147 passengers and crew members were placed under quarantine and health monitoring after disembarking in Spain’s Canary Islands on May 10th. Most have since returned to their home countries, where monitoring measures remain in effect. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the observation period is scheduled to continue through June 21st, marking 42 days since the last known exposure to the virus.
The most recent fatality linked to the outbreak was reported on May 2nd, when the cluster was first communicated to the WHO. The number of confirmed cases had remained unchanged at 11 since May 13th before Dutch health authorities identified an additional infected crew member while the individual was already in isolation.
The Netherlands Ministry of Health reported that the crew member had been hospitalized and that contact tracing procedures were underway. Officials indicated that the individual had remained under home quarantine following close contact with infected persons aboard the vessel.
Health authorities identified the virus involved as the Andes strain of hantavirus, which emerged during the ship’s passage between Argentina and Cape Verde. According to guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hantaviruses are typically transmitted to humans through exposure to rodent urine, saliva, or droppings and can lead to severe respiratory illness.
The CDC also confirmed that 18 American passengers remain in isolation within the United States as monitoring efforts continue.