Dutch health officials lift ban on cruise ship Hondous after hantavirus outbreak

The Dutch Public Health Service in Rotterdam cleared the cruise ship MV Hondous to resume sailing after thorough cleaning and disinfection. In a statement the agency said, "there are no longer any public‑health obstacles to the ship's departure," and confirmed that inspections found the sanitation work effective and performed according to approved guidelines. The ship, which had been placed under quarantine following a hantavirus outbreak that WHO linked to 13 confirmed cases and three deaths, was set to restart its itinerary on 13 June.

Argentine epidemiologists also reported that the situation on board is now largely under control. Carolina Belomo of the Malbrán Institute stated, "the infection is now under control to a large extent," and health officials in Argentina affirmed that further spread is not expected. Hantavirus, a rare rodent‑borne disease without a vaccine, had previously caused outbreaks in the Andes region.

The incident involved passengers disembarked in the Canary Islands and repatriated by air, and the ship will continue its cruises after the health clearance.