MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak reaches Rotterdam as case count rises

The MV Hondius has reached Rotterdam for disinfection after the Andes hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship grew to 12 reported cases, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said on May 18.

ECDC said the outbreak total now stands at 12 reported cases, including nine confirmed, two probable and one inconclusive. The agency also said the ship arrived in Rotterdam with 27 crew members on board.

Canada has separately reported a presumptive-positive passenger that ECDC says is now being classified as confirmed.

The Rotterdam arrival marks the latest major development in a case that was first flagged earlier this month. On May 13, the World Health Organization said the outbreak had reached 11 cases and three deaths, and that evidence suggested human-to-human transmission aboard the vessel.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is monitoring the outbreak and described the risk to the American public as extremely low.

AP and Reuters reported on May 18 that the ship docked in Rotterdam for disinfection and that the remaining crew were being handled by authorities.

The key unanswered questions are whether more repatriated passengers will test positive in the coming days, where the first infection originated, and how many countries will ultimately report cases or monitored contacts.