The CEO of Oceanwide Expeditions has stated that the current information regarding a series of hantavirus cases strongly indicates that the outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius did not originate onboard. In an update released on Tuesday, Rémi Bouysset, the CEO of Oceanwide Expeditions, provided details on the company’s response to the crisis stemming from the hantavirus infections on the ship, which have resulted in three deaths and critical conditions for other individuals. Despite acknowledging the tragic events, Bouysset mentioned that the vessel’s conditions are unlikely to be the source of the outbreak.
Based on available medical and epidemiological data, including advice from WHO experts and relevant health authorities, Bouysset stated that it is highly probable that the virus was introduced before the embarkation and did not start on the ship itself. Investigations are ongoing to determine the specific location where the virus might have been contracted.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, reported that there have been 11 documented hantavirus cases associated with the ship outbreak, with three resulting in fatalities. Ghebreyesus emphasized that the global hantavirus risk remains low, as per the WHO’s assessment.
The MV Hondius arrived in Rotterdam on Monday for disinfection after the crew members disembarked. The crew will remain quarantined until June 29. Passengers, including some Canadians, had previously disembarked in Tenerife earlier this month. Oceanwide Expeditions is currently in the final stages of a comprehensive cleaning and sanitization process on the vessel, including the implementation of additional health protocols and crew transitions before resuming operations.
Oceanwide Expeditions, headquartered in the Netherlands, operates a fleet that includes the MV Hondius.
