The final passengers have disembarked from the hantavirus-affected cruise ship as authorities reported three additional confirmed cases linked to the outbreak.
The MV Hondius left Tenerife for the Netherlands on Monday after its remaining six passengers — four Australians, one British national and one New Zealander — along with several crew members, exited the vessel.
Three passengers who travelled on the ship have died, with hantavirus confirmed in two of the cases.
Health authorities said an American and a French passenger who had already returned to their home countries later tested positive for the virus. According to the World Health Organisation, seven confirmed hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius have been identified so far, while two more remain under investigation.
Spain’s health ministry said a Spanish national, currently in quarantine in Madrid after being evacuated from the ship, also returned a provisional positive test for hantavirus on Monday.
The US health department said another American passenger on a repatriation flight had developed mild symptoms. Officials noted that both Americans were transported in biocontainment units as a precautionary measure.
French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said a woman in Paris was isolating, and her condition was worsening, while authorities had traced 22 contacts connected to her.
Two British nationals with confirmed infections are undergoing treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa.
Meanwhile, 17 Filipino crew members arrived in the Netherlands on Tuesday morning, according to the Philippine Embassy, while four others had reached earlier on Sunday. The embassy said the crew underwent medical screening and would remain in quarantine facilities.
A total of 38 Filipino crew members are expected to be eventually repatriated to the Philippines.
Hantaviruses are commonly spread through rodents, though the Andes strain — believed by the WHO to have infected some passengers during the South America leg of the voyage — can also spread between humans.
Symptoms of the virus include fever, severe fatigue, muscle pain, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhoea and breathing difficulties.
Authorities have said the chances of a large-scale outbreak remain low.
As of Monday evening, cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said 27 people were still on board the vessel, including 25 crew members and two medical staff. Those remaining include 17 Filipinos, four Dutch nationals, four Ukrainians, one Russian and one Polish national.
