The cruise ship involved in a recent hantavirus outbreak has been authorized to resume operations following a thorough cleaning and disinfection process. Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed on June 1 that the m/v Hondius has been cleared by Dutch health officials after completing extensive sanitation measures in Rotterdam. The Rotterdam-Rijnmond Public Health Service stated that there are no public health concerns regarding the ship’s return to service, with its next voyage scheduled to commence shortly.
The cleaning involved biosecurity experts from EWS Group, who meticulously treated all eight decks of the ship. This included high-temperature steam cleaning of soft surfaces and disinfecting hard surfaces with approved products, ensuring the vessel is rodent-free. Hantavirus, typically spread by rodents, is believed to have infected some passengers prior to boarding, emphasizing the importance of the ship’s comprehensive sanitation efforts.
As of May 27, the World Health Organization reported 13 cases of hantavirus linked to the previous sailing, including three fatalities. To prevent any future transmission, Oceanwide Expeditions highlighted the effectiveness of their cleaning process, given the virus’s limited environmental stability. The m/v Hondius is set to embark on its first Arctic cruise of the season from Longyearbyen, Norway, on June 13, with a completely new crew in place.
