Roy Suryo
The last passengers and some crew members have now departed the Dutch cruise ship at the epicenter of a hantavirus outbreak, having disembarked at Granadilla port in southeastern Tenerife. Dozens of passengers from across the globe have since been making their way back to their home countries. Tragically, three individuals – a Dutch couple and a German woman – have died after traveling on the ship, with two of these cases confirmed to be linked to the hantavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a total of nine cases so far, comprising seven confirmed and two suspected. Further complicating the situation, an American and a French national who had already returned home have since tested positive for the virus, while a Spanish national is currently being monitored with a suspected case. This evolving situation has prompted a coordinated global response, with nations implementing various measures to monitor, isolate, and care for their returning citizens.
United Kingdom:
Twenty British nationals, along with one German national residing in the UK and a Japanese passenger, arrived at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, northwest England, late on Sunday. These individuals will remain under medical observation for a period of 72 hours, during which they will undergo medical checks and regular testing. Following this initial period, they will be permitted to return to their homes, where they are mandated to self-isolate for an additional 42 days. The group was transported to Manchester Airport via a chartered flight, with the UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) assuring that "strict infection control measures" were maintained throughout the journey. Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson stated that none of the passengers were exhibiting symptoms, but emphasized their close monitoring as part of a "precautionary isolation period." She further reassured the public, noting that "with no cases or symptoms among them and our stringent monitoring and isolation measures, the risk to the public remains extremely low." In total, 31 British nationals, a combination of passengers and crew, were on board the cruise. Some had disembarked prior to the first confirmed hantavirus case being reported on May 4th.
United States:
Eighteen American passengers have returned to the United States. Sixteen of these individuals, including a dual UK-US national, are undergoing screening at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Two other passengers are being monitored in Atlanta. Two passengers, one of whom displayed mild symptoms and was transported back in a specialized biocontainment unit on the charter plane, are receiving care at Emory University’s Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center in Atlanta, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS has strongly advised the general public that the risk of infection is "very, very low." John Knox of the HHS stated on Monday that the returning Americans would undergo a series of health assessments over the coming days. Subsequently, they will be provided with individual care plans that will determine whether they should isolate at home or remain in a medical facility, based on their health status and living arrangements.
Netherlands:
The European Union’s guidance mirrors that of the UK, advising citizens returning to their respective member nations to "undergo medical triage by trained healthcare professionals." In the Netherlands, Dutch nationals who disembarked the MV Hondius on Sunday were flown to Eindhoven and are currently completing their quarantine period. The government reported that they were transported directly to their home addresses in vans. Individuals in isolation will be contacted daily by relevant health officials to "ensure that any symptoms are identified and appropriate care can be provided promptly." Thirteen Dutch nationals, consisting of eight passengers and five crew members, were on board the ship when it docked in Tenerife.
Spain:
Fourteen Spanish nationals who were flown from Tenerife to Madrid are undergoing mandatory quarantine at a military hospital in the capital. Spain’s Health Minister reported on Monday that one individual had provisionally tested positive in the initial test. She stated, "The individual remains isolated, asymptomatic, and in good general condition." The minister added, "The other 13 passengers have tested provisionally negative. In the coming hours, we will know the definitive results." Residents of Tenerife and the Canary Islands in general had expressed concerns regarding the cruise ship’s stop. However, WHO officials have maintained that the risk of wider contagion is low "because of how the virus works." Passengers and crew departing the ship were ferried to Granadilla port, situated a considerable distance from residential areas.
France:
France has confirmed its first case of hantavirus after a French national developed symptoms while traveling on a chartered flight from Tenerife to Paris. French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced that the woman is currently isolating in Paris and her health is deteriorating. Twenty-two contact cases have been traced. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu had stated over the weekend that all five French citizens traveling back from Spain would be "immediately placed in strict isolation until further notice."
Germany:
German health authorities reported on Monday that four individuals had arrived in the country overnight and were being monitored in an isolation unit at Frankfurt University Hospital. The country’s health ministry indicated that all four, who are not currently showing symptoms, would be transferred to their homes in Berlin, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Schleswig-Holstein. They will be "continuously and closely monitored for symptoms," according to Germany’s federal health ministry. Local health authorities will be responsible for determining the specific measures to be implemented.
Canada:
Authorities have confirmed that a total of six Canadians were aboard the ship. Four of them returned to British Columbia on Sunday after boarding a chartered flight from Tenerife. While they have not exhibited any symptoms, they will be self-isolating for a minimum of 21 days as a precautionary measure. The Public Health Agency of Canada has indicated that this period could be extended to 42 days, taking into account the hantavirus’s incubation period, which can range from one to eight weeks for symptoms to manifest. Two other Canadians, a couple, are self-isolating at their home in Ontario. Health Minister Sylvia Jones stated on Monday that neither individual has developed symptoms.
Switzerland:
A man who left the cruise in Saint Helena has tested positive for hantavirus since returning to Switzerland. The Swiss national is receiving medical care. His wife, who traveled with him, has not shown any symptoms of the virus but is self-isolating as a precautionary measure. The Federal Office of Public Health has stated that the risk to the public in Switzerland is low.
Argentina:
Investigations are ongoing into the origin of the outbreak and whether it may have originated in Argentina, where the ship began its journey. The WHO has previously stated that the first two cases had "travelled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on a bird-watching trip which included visits to sites where the species of rat known to carry the virus was present." The Andes strain of the virus, responsible for this outbreak, is predominantly found in Argentina and Chile.
Philippines:
Among the crew members of the MV Hondius are 38 individuals from the Philippines. Currently, there are no recorded cases of hantavirus in the country, and officials maintain that the risk remains "extremely low."
Additional reporting by Nadine Yousif.
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