Hantavirus Cruise Ship Cleared to Resume Operations
The MV Hondius, an expedition cruise ship at the center of a rare and deadly Andes hantavirus outbreak that claimed three lives and infected 13 people across multiple countries, has been cleared to resume operations after undergoing an extensive deep cleaning and disinfection process in Rotterdam, according to USA Today.
Dutch health authority GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond issued official clearance on May 30, stating: “From a public health perspective, there are no objections to returning the vessel to service.” The ship is scheduled to depart Rotterdam on June 6 for Longyearbyen, Norway, and begin its Arctic cruise season on June 13.
The Outbreak
The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 with 114 passengers and 61 crew. What began as a routine expedition voyage quickly turned into an international health crisis. The first passenger, a 70-year-old Dutch man, began showing symptoms on April 6 and died on board on April 11. His wife also contracted the virus and died days later in a Johannesburg hospital.
According to the World Health Organization, a total of 13 cases (11 confirmed and 2 probable) were reported as of May 27, including three deaths — a case fatality ratio of 23%. The WHO assessed the global risk as low, noting that Andes virus “has demonstrated limited human-to-human transmission in previous outbreaks.”
The virus, normally endemic in South America, is the only hantavirus known to spread between humans. The CDC deployed epidemiologists to the Canary Islands and coordinated the repatriation of American passengers, who were quarantined at the National Quarantine Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Deep Cleaning Operation
Following the ship’s arrival in Rotterdam on May 18, a team of 13 biosecurity experts from EWS Group undertook a comprehensive disinfection operation spanning all eight decks of the vessel. The process included high-temperature steam cleaning of all soft surfaces, disinfection of hard surfaces with registered products and hydrogen peroxide, and a third-party declaration that the ship was rodent-free.
Oceanwide Expeditions stated that the deep clean “eliminates the possibility of future transmission of hantavirus, which has limited environmental stability compared to many other viruses.”
Crucially, all crew members from the prior voyage have disembarked and are in quarantine. A completely new crew will staff the ship for its upcoming Arctic season, ensuring no contact between the previous and current personnel.
A Coordinated International Response
The outbreak triggered one of the most extensive international contact tracing efforts in recent maritime history. Over 600 contacts were identified across 32 countries, with high-risk contacts required to undergo 42-day quarantine. The WHO coordinated through International Health Regulations channels, while the UK Health Security Agency quarantined 20 British nationals at Arrowe Park Hospital.
Preliminary genetic sequencing showed near-identical virus sequences among cases, indicating a single spillover event. The working hypothesis is that the first case acquired the infection prior to boarding through exposure on land in South America, not from the ship itself.
What This Means for the Cruise Industry
This marks the first known outbreak of Andes hantavirus on a cruise ship, demonstrating the virus’s ability to spread in confined environments. The average passenger age of 65 — a demographic more vulnerable to severe outcomes — contributed to the high case fatality rate.
According to Cruise Industry News, Rémi Bouysset, CEO of Oceanwide Expeditions, praised the collaboration with EWS Group, saying it “played an important role in the successful completion of this complex disinfection operation and the vessel’s preparation for return to service.”
Looking Ahead
While the MV Hondius prepares to resume its Arctic itinerary, several questions remain unanswered. Investigations into the exact source of the initial infection are ongoing in Argentina and Chile. The cruise industry will likely face renewed scrutiny over outbreak prevention protocols, and the complete crew replacement and rigorous quarantine measures set by Oceanwide Expeditions may become a benchmark for future maritime health emergencies.
For now, the ship’s return to service marks the end of a chapter in one of the most unusual and deadly disease outbreaks ever recorded at sea — but the lessons learned will resonate across the travel and public health sectors for years to come.