Crew of MV Hondius to undergo hantavirus quarantine in Rotterdam

The Hague (ANTARA) - Most of the crew of the cruise ship MV Hondius, which has been affected by hantavirus, will undergo a six-week quarantine in Rotterdam, Netherlands, once the ship docks in the country.

The Dutch government announced on Friday (May 15) that the MV Hondius cruise ship, affected by hantavirus, is expected to arrive at the Port of Rotterdam next Monday (May 18).

“Rotterdam in the Netherlands has been designated as a port for handling infectious diseases in shipping,” according to a letter sent to the country’s parliament on Friday and signed by Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport Sophie Hermans and Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen.

According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch-based ship operator, there are currently 27 people on board, including 25 crew members and two medical personnel. The group consists of 17 Filipino nationals, four Dutch nationals, four Ukrainian nationals, one Russian national, and one Polish national.

The ministers said that some of the crew would undergo self-quarantine at home upon arrival, while those who cannot immediately return to their home countries will be placed in designated quarantine facilities.

Regarding the 17 crew members of Filipino nationality, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment of the Netherlands (RIVM) recommended that they remain in the Netherlands for the six-week quarantine period.

“The reason behind this recommendation is the limited possibility of implementing and enforcing quarantine in the country of origin, as well as limited access to optimal medical care if the disease occurs, with equivalent risks to local and global public health as well as to the health of the crew members concerned,” the institute said in a letter.

The letter added that the RIVM’s recommendation was made after careful consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and is in line with WHO guidelines.

The ship will undergo a thorough cleaning process carried out by an external specialist company in accordance with RIVM guidelines, which will also include WHO recommendations and be implemented in close cooperation with the Rotterdam City Health Service.

“Personal protective measures are being taken to ensure that cleaning staff do not have to undergo quarantine after cleaning the ship,” the letter said.