Health emergency
AMSTERDAM
Two planes carrying passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was struck by a hantavirus outbreak, arrived in the Netherlands early Tuesday as health authorities intensified precautionary measures.
The outbreak, linked to the rare Andes strain of hantavirus, has already claimed three lives and triggered quarantine protocols for hospital staff treating infected patients.
The aircraft landed shortly after midnight at Eindhoven Airport, bringing home eight Dutch nationals among a total of 28 passengers evacuated from the expedition cruise ship. Authorities stated that passengers from other countries would continue onward travel to their respective home nations after arriving in the Netherlands.
The outbreak response expanded further after the Radboud University Medical Center placed 12 staff members under preventive quarantine for six weeks. Hospital officials said the workers may have been exposed after blood and urine samples from a hantavirus patient were handled before stricter safety procedures were introduced.
The hospital emphasized that the risk of infection remains extremely low and that medical services are continuing without disruption. The facility admitted one infected passenger from the MV Hondius on May 7.
Bertine Lahuis, chair of the hospital’s executive board, said the institution would carefully review the sequence of events surrounding the handling of the patient in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the MV Hondius departed for the Netherlands with 25 crew members, along with a doctor and nurse still onboard. Cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that all passengers had disembarked before the vessel began its return journey. The ship is expected to arrive in the Netherlands by May 17.
The outbreak has resulted in the deaths of three people so far, including a Dutch couple and a German national. Hantavirus is commonly spread through contact with infected wild rodents, though the Andes strain is one of the few known variants capable of limited person-to-person transmission through close contact.
The World Health Organization reported that seven confirmed cases of the Andes strain have now been identified, along with two additional suspected cases. One suspected victim died before testing could be conducted, while another possible case emerged on Tristan da Cunha, a remote South Atlantic island lacking testing facilities. Among the confirmed cases is a French passenger who tested positive after the ship docked in the Canary Islands on Sunday. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that the passenger’s condition had briefly worsened but is now stable.AMSTERDAM
Two planes carrying passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was struck by a hantavirus outbreak, arrived in the Netherlands early Tuesday as health authorities intensified precautionary measures.
The outbreak, linked to the rare Andes strain of hantavirus, has already claimed three lives and triggered quarantine protocols for hospital staff treating infected patients.
The aircraft landed shortly after midnight at Eindhoven Airport, bringing home eight Dutch nationals among a total of 28 passengers evacuated from the expedition cruise ship. Authorities stated that passengers from other countries would continue onward travel to their respective home nations after arriving in the Netherlands.
The outbreak response expanded further after the Radboud University Medical Center placed 12 staff members under preventive quarantine for six weeks. Hospital officials said the workers may have been exposed after blood and urine samples from a hantavirus patient were handled before stricter safety procedures were introduced.
The hospital emphasized that the risk of infection remains extremely low and that medical services are continuing without disruption. The facility admitted one infected passenger from the MV Hondius on May 7.
Bertine Lahuis, chair of the hospital’s executive board, said the institution would carefully review the sequence of events surrounding the handling of the patient in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the MV Hondius departed for the Netherlands with 25 crew members, along with a doctor and nurse still onboard. Cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that all passengers had disembarked before the vessel began its return journey. The ship is expected to arrive in the Netherlands by May 17.
The outbreak has resulted in the deaths of three people so far, including a Dutch couple and a German national. Hantavirus is commonly spread through contact with infected wild rodents, though the Andes strain is one of the few known variants capable of limited person-to-person transmission through close contact.
The World Health Organization reported that seven confirmed cases of the Andes strain have now been identified, along with two additional suspected cases. One suspected victim died before testing could be conducted, while another possible case emerged on Tristan da Cunha, a remote South Atlantic island lacking testing facilities. Among the confirmed cases is a French passenger who tested positive after the ship docked in the Canary Islands on Sunday. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that the passenger’s condition had briefly worsened but is now stable.