Greek traveler cleared after 42‑day quarantine for Andes hantavirus exposure

A Greek passenger on the cruise ship MV Hondius was placed under intensified health surveillance after the vessel reported cases of the rare Andes hantavirus. The traveler was isolated for 42 days in a negative‑pressure chamber at the Special Infectious Diseases Unit of the University General Hospital “Attikon”.

During the six‑week period he received daily medical examinations and strict preventive measures. No symptoms or laboratory signs of infection appeared, allowing doctors to rule out hantavirus disease. After the observation period the patient was discharged and returned home, marking the successful conclusion of the containment protocol.

The case demonstrates the application of Greece’s precautionary health procedures for potential exposure to rare pathogens.