The cruise ship MV Hondius, hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, docked at the Dutch port of Rotterdam on Monday for disinfection, ending a troubled journey that put international health authorities on alert.
The vessel carried 25 crew and two medical personnel after all passengers disembarked elsewhere. No one on board currently shows symptoms. Occupants wore masks as the ship was escorted by tug and police boats. The crew will enter immediate quarantine.
Three passengers died in the outbreak, including a Dutch couple believed to be the first exposed in South America. At least 11 cases have been reported, nine confirmed. The ship sailed six days from the Canary Islands, where remaining passengers disembarked under full protective gear and flew to over 20 countries for quarantine.
The World Health Organization stressed this is not a repeat of COVID-19, with contagion very rare. However, the virus has a several-week incubation period, so more cases may emerge. After everyone disembarks, the ship will be decontaminated per Dutch guidelines. Public health officials will inspect it before it sails again. The Dutch owner plans no operational changes, with an Arctic cruise scheduled from Iceland on May 29.