Hantavirus Cruise Ship Outbreak: Final Passengers Evacuated as US Traveler Tests Positive

The final passengers and crew from the MV Hondius cruise ship have been evacuated after a hantavirus outbreak onboard led to deaths and global health monitoring. The last evacuation flights arrived in the Netherlands carrying 28 people, including passengers from Australia, New Zealand, and a British resident of Australia.

The operation completed a wider repatriation effort involving 94 passengers and crew sent back to nearly 20 countries for quarantine after exposure to the virus during the voyage.

US Hantavirus Case Confirmed After Cruise Ship Return

United States health officials confirmed that one of 18 evacuated American passengers tested positive for the virus after returning home. The individual is being monitored in Nebraska, while other exposed passengers remain under medical observation.

A French woman who tested positive for hantavirus after she was evacuated from a cruise ship reported symptoms to doctors onboard but was told it was probably just anxiety, the Spanish health minister has said.

Andes Virus Raises Health Concerns

Health experts identified the outbreak strain as the Andes virus, a rare type of hantavirus capable of limited person-to-person transmission. Three people, including a Dutch couple and a German passenger, died during the outbreak.

Health officials continue to stress that the public risk remains low because the virus usually spreads only through prolonged close contact. A 42-day quarantine period has been recommended for all passengers.