Deadly MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak Is Over, W.H.O. Says
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- A hantavirus outbreak on the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius led to 12 confirmed cases and three deaths, prompting weeks-long quarantines for passengers and a global health alert.
- The World Health Organization declared the outbreak over after the last passenger contact completed quarantine and tested negative for the virus.
- The MV Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 with 175 passengers and crew from nearly two dozen countries, with the first fatal case occurring within two weeks.
- The outbreak lasted about three months, ending with the last reported case on May 25, during which time extensive contact tracing and quarantine measures were enforced.
- The incident sparked a global scientific effort to understand the rare hantavirus vector and highlighted the challenges of managing infectious diseases on cruise ships.
