Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship docks in the Netherlands for disinfection

The cruise ship MV Hondius arrived in Rotterdam on May 18 for disinfection after a hantavirus outbreak on board, according to Dutch health authorities and the Port of Rotterdam.

The Port of Rotterdam said the ship was brought to a designated quarantine port under the Public Health Act. RIVM, the Dutch public health institute, said 27 people were still aboard when the vessel arrived, including crew and medical personnel.

RIVM also said laboratory testing identified the virus as the Andes variant of hantavirus.

The docking follows earlier international reporting on the outbreak. The World Health Organization said on May 13 that the cluster linked to the Hondius had reached 11 reported cases and three deaths. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on May 8 that it was monitoring the situation and that the risk to the American public remained extremely low.

Authorities have not said when disinfection will be completed or whether additional cases have been confirmed since the ship reached Rotterdam.