The MV Hondius Returns to the Seas After a Hantavirus Outbreak
The cruise ship MV Hondius, which was at the center of a hantavirus outbreak that caused global concern, is set to return to the seas this month. The vessel triggered a health scare last month when passengers began falling ill with hantavirus, a rare but serious viral disease.
A total of 13 confirmed cases of hantavirus were reported on the MV Hondius, resulting in three deaths. The leading theory suggests that the illness was brought on board by two passengers who were birdwatching in Ushuaia, Argentina. The ship has since undergone a deep cleaning and is now welcoming tourists again, with bird spotting being one of the first activities on the itinerary.
A Dutch couple, both aged 69, fell ill after visiting a landfill site to birdwatch, where it is believed they may have been exposed to rodents carrying the infection. The couple died within days of each other, along with a German national, and a British passenger was taken to intensive care in South Africa.
Before the outbreak, the MV Hondius was carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries. Dozens of passengers disembarked on the island of St Helena on 24 April, including 30 British nationals who got off early at St Helena. The remaining passengers were dropped off in the Canary Islands in mid-May before the ship docked in Rotterdam on May 18.
The remaining 22 British nationals took a charter flight home and were advised to isolate for up to 45 days. According to the World Health Organisation, human-to-human transmission of hantavirus occurred on the MV Hondius, despite the virus typically being spread through exposure to rodent urine, faeces, or saliva.
After a team of 13 biosecurity experts carried out a deep clean of the ship, the vessel was cleared on May 30 by Dutch health authority (GGD) officials to resume full operations. Oceanwide Expeditions stated that eight decks were treated and the MV Hondius was declared rodent-free.
What is Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are a family of rodent-borne viruses, with each strain tied to a specific host species. The virus is usually spread when people come into contact with infected droppings, saliva, urine, or nesting materials. However, it is extremely rare and rarely transmitted from person to person.
If contracted, hantavirus can lead to two main illnesses: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which affects the lungs, and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), which affects the kidneys. The incubation period for the illness is generally two to four weeks, but can range from as little as two days to as long as eight weeks.
What Are the Symptoms?
Early symptoms of hantavirus are similar to the flu and include headaches, dizziness, chills, as well as abdominal problems like diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. If the disease progresses into Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, patients can experience similar symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal issues.
For those who develop Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, initial symptoms include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever or chills, nausea, and blurred vision. As the disease progresses, later symptoms may include low blood pressure, acute shock, internal bleeding, and acute kidney failure, according to the CDC.
Hantavirus can be fatal, so it is crucial to monitor symptoms if you believe you have been exposed. There is currently no cure for the disease.
New Voyage Begins
The MV Hondius will now embark on its first tour since the hantavirus outbreak, heading to Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited town in Svalbard, Norway. The North Spitsbergen Explorer cruise will take guests around the archipelago over seven nights.
Passengers will have the opportunity to observe Arctic wildlife, including seabird colonies and the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet. There will also be chances to see glaciers, ice caps, seals, and polar bears. A place on the cruise ranges in price from £5,000 for a shared room to £14,000 for a Grand Suite.
The cruise’s crew will not include anyone who had contact with individuals quarantining following possible exposure to the virus. All crew members who were present during the prior voyage of MV Hondius have disembarked the vessel and are currently in quarantine.
Oceanwide Expeditions stated that medical and epidemiological information confirms that the hantavirus was introduced before embarkation and did not originate from the vessel. A statement reads: “The completion of this deep clean and disinfection of the vessel eliminates the possibility of future transmission of hantavirus, which has limited environmental stability compared to many other viruses.”
