The company operating the cruise ship at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak has stated it expects to know by the end of this week whether the vessel will maintain its summer cruising schedule. This follows earlier indications that the schedule would remain unchanged.
Background of the Outbreak
The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, listed on Oceanwide Expeditions' website for a late May departure to the Arctic, is at the heart of the outbreak. Three passengers have died, including a Dutch couple believed to be the first exposed while visiting South America. In total, 11 cases have been reported, with nine confirmed.
Company's Stance
Earlier this week, after the ship reached Spain's Canary Islands where all remaining passengers disembarked, Oceanwide Expeditions stated it did not “foresee changes to our operations,” including a cruise scheduled for May 29. However, on Wednesday, the company said it expects “clarity on whether the vessel will sail and the sailing schedule by the end of this week.”
More than 120 individuals on board during the outbreak—all passengers and some crew—disembarked on Sunday and Monday and are now in quarantine across several countries. The ship has since set sail for Rotterdam, Netherlands, expected to arrive on May 17 or 18.
Current Situation Onboard
Twenty-five crew members, two health workers, and the body of one deceased passenger remain on board. None are showing symptoms, according to the company.
Hantavirus typically spreads through rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between humans. However, the Andes virus detected on the Hondius may, in rare cases, spread between people. Symptoms usually appear one to eight weeks after exposure.
