Dutch cruise ship Hondius cleared to resume voyages after hantavirus outbreak

The Dutch‑flagged cruise ship MV Hondius was the centre of a hantavirus outbreak in early May while crossing the Atlantic. The virus, for which no vaccine or specific treatment exists, infected passengers and crew, resulting in 13 confirmed or probable cases and three deaths. Affected passengers were evacuated to Tenerife in the Spanish Canary Islands before being repatriated to their home countries.

Following the outbreak, the vessel docked in Rotterdam, where the municipal health agency conducted a thorough cleaning and disinfection in line with established guidelines. After a final inspection confirmed that all decontamination procedures were correctly applied and that no public‑health obstacles remained, the agency authorised the ship to return to service. The cruise line announced that the MV Hondius will resume its sailing schedule on 13 June, ending a period of quarantine for the remaining crew members.

The incident triggered a global health alert, with the World Health Organization tracking the cases and urging heightened monitoring of hantavirus risks on maritime vessels.