Global quarantine for MV Hondius hantavirus contacts ends as Spain closes outbreak management

The international health alert prompted by a hantavirus outbreak aboard the polar cruise ship MV Hondius has concluded, with all remaining quarantined crew and passengers cleared to return to normal life. Oceanwide Expeditions, the vessel's operator, confirmed on 20 June that every crew member who had been under quarantine had finished their isolation and was travelling home. Spain's Ministry of Health simultaneously announced it was closing its own epidemiological management after the last of 14 Spanish nationals completed a 42-day quarantine with negative PCR results.

“With no new cases or deaths reported since 2 May, the situation remains stable.”

Outbreak aboard the Hondius

The Netherlands-flagged MV Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April for a South Atlantic cruise, calling at remote islands before heading via Cape Verde to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. During the voyage, 12 confirmed and one probable case of hantavirus were recorded, and three people died. The outbreak triggered a coordinated international response led by the WHO and Spanish authorities.

Passengers were evacuated when the ship reached Tenerife on 11 May, while a reduced crew sailed on to Rotterdam, docking on 18 May. After extensive cleaning and disinfection, the vessel was authorised to sail again on 30 May.

Spanish contacts clear final tests

Fourteen Spanish nationals, 13 passengers and one crew member, were admitted to Madrid's Hospital Gómez Ulla on 10 May after being flown from Tenerife. Two of them developed mild symptoms and tested positive; both have since recovered and were discharged, the second on 16 June. The remaining 11 contacts were transferred to home quarantine on 7 June and underwent a final PCR test on 20 June. All results were negative. The Catalan health department separately confirmed that five Catalans among the group were asymptomatic and free to resume normal activity.

“All contacts have completed the quarantine period established by health authorities, with corresponding PCR tests negative in every case.”

Crew and other nationals return home

Oceanwide Expeditions said no health problems or new infections had been detected among the crew members who finished quarantine on 20 June.

“All remaining MV Hondius crew members have completed their quarantine and are returning to their home countries.”

Thirty-eight Filipino crew returned home on 19 June. French authorities had similarly reported that the last passengers and contact cases in France were exiting isolation this weekend. No secondary infections have been recorded in any country linked to the vessel.