MV Hondius nears end of voyage after hantavirus ordeal

"The vessel is expected to dock in the Dutch port between 10 a.m. local time (0800 UTC) and noon (1000 UTC), according to officials Authorities are making quarantine arrangements for the ship's skeleton crew of 27 people 25 crew and two medical staff that have remained on board. The Dutch-flagged luxury cruise ship had been carrying around 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when it reported three deaths from hantavirus earlier this month."

"Hantaviruses come from rodents. People become infected through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings or saliva, mainly by breathing in contaminated particles. The virus can cause a severe and sometimes deadly lung infection called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What will happen after MV Hondius arrives in Rotterdam?"

"A total of 17 people from the Philippines, four from the Netherlands, four from Ukraine, one from Russia and one from Poland will disembark the Hondius after a more than two week-ordeal. The ship's operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said that everyone still on board is asymptomatic and being closely monitored by the two medics with them. Some of the people will stay in quarantine facilities at the port, while others will self-isolate at home."

"Local authorities said quarantine facilities had been set up for some of the non-Dutch crew. It was not immediately clear if they would stay there for the full recommended 42-day quarantine period. The body of a German woman who died during the voyage is also on board. The Hondius would undergo cleaning and disinfection, Oceanwide Expeditions said."

MV Hondius is scheduled to arrive in Rotterdam, Netherlands, between 10 a.m. and noon local time. Authorities will prepare quarantine arrangements for a skeleton crew of 27 people remaining on board, including 25 crew and two medical staff. The Dutch-flagged luxury cruise ship carried about 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when it reported three deaths from hantavirus earlier in the month. Hantaviruses spread from rodents through contact with infected animals or their urine, droppings, or saliva, mainly via inhalation of contaminated particles, and can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. After arrival, 17 people from the Philippines, four from the Netherlands, four from Ukraine, one from Russia, and one from Poland will disembark. Some will stay in port quarantine facilities while others will self-isolate at home, and the ship will undergo cleaning and disinfection.

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