Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius

An outbreak of Hantavirus, specifically the Andes virus (ANDV), occurred on the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius, carrying approximately 150 individuals from 23 countries. Eight cases, including three deaths, were reported. The MV Hondius arrived in Spain, anchoring off the Canary Islands, where passengers disembarked under protocols established by the World Health Organization and Spanish authorities. Two Indian nationals, crew members on the MV Hondius, were confirmed healthy and asymptomatic by the India — List of diplomatic missions of India, and were evacuated to the Netherlands for quarantine. The World Health Organization issued technical guidance, and the European Union — European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control classified individuals as high-risk contacts. Dr. Naveen Kumar, Director of ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, reassured the public in India that the cases were isolated and posed a low risk of community spread.