After a deadly hantavirus outbreak that sickened 13 travelers and killed three, the MV Hondius has been cleared to sail again.. dutch health officials said the vessel met strict decontamination standards , and Oceanwide Expeditions plans to restart the cruise schedule from June 13 out of Rotterdam.

13 confirmed cases and three deaths on MV Hondius

According to the source report, the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius resulted in 13 laboratory‑confirmed infections and three fatalities. The victims were identified among passengers who fell ill while the ship was en route from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde. the disease, hantavirus, is transmitted by rodents and has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, making the mortality rate particularly concerning.

Disinfection protocol cleared by Dutch public health agency

The Dutch public health agency declared that there are no longer any obstacles to putting the Hondius back to sea after infection‑control experts verified that the ship had undergone a massive disinfection in line with established guidelines. As the report notes, the cleaning was deemed effective, and the agency’s clearance paves the way for the vessel to depart Rotterdam once final inspections are completed.

Passengers repatriated via Tenerife and St Helena

Most of the travelers were taken off the ship in Tenerife, Spain’s Canary Islands, and flown home, according to the source. A smaller group of passengers had already disembarked at St Helena before the health alert was issued. The 22 British nationals were initially transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral, where they entered quarantine on May 10.

Remaining 16 British passengers still in quarantine

While six of the British passengers were released to complete isolation at home on May 13, the other 16 remain in hospital quarantine, as reported. The ship completed its transatlantic leg on May 18 in Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, where the remaining crew members were also placed under quarantine.

When will the remaining passengers be released?

The source does not specify a timeline for the dischaarge of the 16 patients still in Arrowe Park Hospital, leaving families and travel operators uncertain about when they can safely rejoin the cruise or return home.