The Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak was detected, has departed Cape Verde waters heading toward Spain's Canary Islands after drifting without a destination for three days amid strict disease control measures.
The MV Hondius has left Cape Verde waters en route to docking at Spain's Canary Islands, while multiple countries worldwide have begun intensifying follow-up and monitoring of passengers who were on board after reports of increasing confirmed and suspected hantavirus infections.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that at least three confirmed infections and several suspected cases have been identified, including some passengers who had already returned to their home countries, prompting multiple nations to initiate tracking and observation procedures.
In the United States, health officials in Georgia and Arizona confirmed they are monitoring three passengers who were aboard the ship, although none have shown symptoms yet. Meanwhile, Switzerland confirmed one infected case currently receiving hospital treatment in Zurich.
The cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, reported that two severely ill patients evacuated from the ship have been transferred to medical facilities in the Netherlands, while another passenger is still being evacuated due to flight delays.
Currently, 146 passengers and crew from 23 countries remain on board under strict surveillance measures, while the WHO confirms at least eight infected individuals, including both confirmed and suspected cases.
Experts identified the virus as the "Andes strain hantavirus," found in South America, which has been reported to transmit between humans in certain cases, although the likelihood of widespread transmission remains low.
Meanwhile, several countries in Europe and the United States continue close monitoring of those who had close contact with the ship's passengers amid concerns that additional asymptomatic infections may exist.
The Spanish government is preparing to conduct health screenings on all passengers upon the ship’s arrival at the Canary Islands and plans to quarantine individuals based on their risk level to minimize further transmission.
,BBC
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