The cruise ship MV Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak was recorded, is sailing to Spain's Canary Islands, where all passengers and crew will be examined upon arrival, hromadske reports, citing a comment from Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Five Ukrainian crew members reported asymptomatic
The ship is expected to dock on 9 May. Five Ukrainian citizens are among the crew. According to the MFA, their state of health is satisfactory, with no signs of illness.
The Embassy of Ukraine in the Netherlands is in continuous contact with a representative of the operator company. The case is under the special supervision of the MFA's Consular Service Department, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Netherlands, and the Consulate of Ukraine in Malaysia.
In total, five people with hantavirus symptoms have been evacuated from the vessel. Two of them have been confirmed as infected and are now being treated in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Zurich, Switzerland. The other three suspected cases were taken to the Netherlands and Germany.
What is known about the outbreak
The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius set off from Argentina on a three-week cruise that included Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and other destinations. A 70-year-old Dutch passenger died on board, followed by his 69-year-old wife. By 4 May, three deaths had been reported on the vessel, hromadske notes.
According to the WHO, hantavirus is a viral infection carried by animals and transmitted to humans, most often through contact with rodents such as rats and mice — particularly via their urine, droppings, and saliva.
There are 170 passengers and 71 crew members on board, including a doctor. After the outbreak was detected, the vessel anchored off Cape Verde, the island state off the west coast of Africa, and those on board were placed in isolation. The ship is now heading for the Canary Islands because, as the WHO explained, Cape Verde lacks the capacity to carry out the necessary examinations, and the Canary Islands are the closest location with the required facilities.
