Hantavirus-hit cruise ship on its way to its final destination: Rotterdam port

ROTTERDAM — The hantavirus-affected cruise ship MV Hondius was scheduled to dock in Rotterdam on Monday morning for full disinfection, as Dutch authorities prepared quarantine arrangements for 25 crew members and two medical staff still on board.

Local officials said quarantine facilities had been arranged for some of the non-Dutch crew members, although it remains unclear whether they will be required to complete the full recommended 42-day isolation period.

The Dutch-flagged luxury vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, was carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses was first reported to the World Health Organization on May 2. Since the start of the outbreak, three people—a Dutch couple and a German national—have died.

WHO: “Nothing like COVID”

The vessel had been stranded off Cape Verde, its intended final destination, earlier this month after local authorities barred passengers from disembarking due to the outbreak. The WHO and the European Union requested that Spain coordinate evacuation efforts in the Canary Islands, after which the ship continued to Rotterdam with a reduced crew and two additional medical staff.

Hantavirus is primarily transmitted by rodents, but in rare cases can spread between humans through prolonged close contact. The incubation period can last up to six weeks.

Passengers, crew members who had already disembarked, and individuals identified as close contacts have been placed under quarantine in multiple countries.

The outbreak involves the Andes virus strain, which has circulated in Argentina and Chile for decades. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has reported that ship samples show no significant genetic variation in the virus.

On Friday, the WHO revised its case count to 10 after an inconclusive U.S. case tested negative. As of May 15, there were 10 reported cases—eight confirmed and two probable—including the three fatalities. British Columbia health authorities later reported a Canadian passenger had also tested positive, which WHO said would raise the total to 11 pending official confirmation.

The WHO has emphasized that while additional cases are expected due to the incubation period, the situation is “nothing like COVID” and does not represent a pandemic threat.

Because of the extended incubation period, monitoring for new cases could continue for months, testing public health systems’ post-pandemic response capacity.

The WHO recommends that high-risk contacts be quarantined and monitored for 42 days following exposure, while lower-risk individuals are advised to self-monitor and seek medical care if symptoms develop.

Rotterdam residents cautious but calm

Some residents in Rotterdam expressed concern about the ship’s arrival, particularly regarding whether quarantine protocols would be strictly followed, but most said they did not believe the situation would escalate into a broader public health crisis.

“What is concerning to me is how well will people stay in quarantine,” said Rotterdam resident Claudia Eduardo, 35. “Because we know during the pandemic a lot of people didn’t abide by the rules.”

Aleks Mladenovic, 18, said initial fears eased after learning more about the disease. “It’s not a new thing. We’ll probably figure something out and get on top of it again,” he said. “I am not worried at all.”

-Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Zoran Mikletic in Rotterdam; Additional reporting by Matthias Williams in London; Editing by David Holmes / Reuters