90-Second Read: Can this cruise ship ever be safe again? Inside the Hantavirus cleanup

The MV Hondius, the Dutch cruise ship at the center of the deadly Hantavirus outbreak, is headed to the Netherlands for deep cleaning and inspection following its evacuation. Another is symptomatic but has not tested positive for Hantavirus, according to federal health officials. Because Hantavirus spreads through infected rodents and their waste, cleanup aboard the MV Hondius will likely begin with a full rodent inspection and extermination effort.

Passengers were removed from the ship in Spain's Canary Islands and flown home under quarantine or medical monitoring. Three people infected with the Andes strain of Hantavirus have died. There is no official timeline for when the MV Hondius could return to service, but cruise ships affected by outbreaks often resume operations quickly after cleaning and inspection.

Earlier this year, the Star Princess docked in Fort Lauderdale during a norovirus outbreak, underwent enhanced cleaning and departed again later the same day after more than 100 passengers became ill. Unlike norovirus, Hantavirus is linked to rodent contamination, making cleanup more extensive and inspections more critical. The CDC says Hantavirus can be destroyed with common disinfectants, including diluted bleach and phenol-based cleaners such as Lysol.