Two Belgians isolating in Antwerp hospital after hantavirus outbreak on cruise

Two Belgian passengers from the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, where an outbreak of hantavirus was detected, are currently isolating at Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) where they will receive support and a medical assessment.

The two passengers were transferred via a medical transport service organised by the defence ministry from Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands, where they had been repatriated by air from the Spanish island of Tenerife.

“Everything went well. The risk of these individuals being infectious is low,” said Annelies Wynant, spokeswoman for the federal health ministry, emphasising that medical staff had taken the necessary protective measures to further reduce the risk of infection.

The two Belgian travellers will undergo a medical assessment led by virologist Erika Vlieghe, the results of which are expected to be known “by Monday evening at the earliest”, according to Wynant.

If it turns out that the two cruise passengers are in good health and asymptomatic, they will be able to return home to continue their quarantine.

If they show symptoms or if the test proves positive, they will remain in isolation at the hospital, where they will receive appropriate medical care and monitoring.

The MV Hondius cruise ship has been at the centre of a global health alert following the deaths of three passengers due to a hantavirus outbreak onboard.

The latest World Health Organisation report identified six confirmed cases out of eight suspected cases, including the three people who died from this known but rare virus which can cause acute respiratory syndrome.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for hantavirus, which is endemic in Argentina, from where the ship departed on 1 April.

The World Health Organisation stated that the risk to global public health is low.

The evacuation of about 100 passengers and crew members from the ship began on Sunday in a port on the island of Tenerife.

Passengers were evacuated in groups, on small boats according to their nationality, after Spanish health officials boarded the ship to carry out a final inspection.

Passengers had to leave their suitcases on board but were able to take a few personal belongings considered essential.

The evacuation operations are due to be completed on Monday, before the cruise ship sets sail for the Netherlands.

One of the American passengers on the ship who was evacuated to the United States has tested positive, and another is showing “mild symptoms”, the US Department of Health announced on Monday.

In the meantime, the French health minister announced that the first case of hantavirus had been detected in a French citizen who was onboard the cruise ship.