90-Second Read: Hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius arrives in Rotterdam for disinfection

The Dutch -flagged luxury cruise ship had been carrying around 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses among passengers was first reported to the World Health Organization on May 2. Hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents but can be transmitted between people in rare cases and after prolonged, close contact. British Columbia's government said on Saturday one Canadian, who had been a passenger on the Hondius, had also tested positive for Hantavirus. The vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, had been stranded off Cape Verde, its intended final destination, earlier this month after authorities barred passengers from going ashore due to the outbreak.

As of May 15, there were 10 WHO reported cases, eight confirmed and two probable, including the three deaths. The WHO said on Sunday it was waiting for official updates but that this would make it 11 cases. Some Dutch citizens expressed some concern about the arrival of the MV Hondius in Rotterdam, fearing people might not follow the quarantine rules, but told Reuters they didn't expect a new pandemic. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading.

Local authorities said quarantine facilities had been set up for some of the non-Dutch crew, though it was not clear yet if they would stay there for the full recommended 42-day quarantine period. Three people, a Dutch couple and a German national, have died since the start of the outbreak. Crew, passengers who already left the ship and people in contact with them have been quarantined in several countries around the world. The WHO recommends monitoring and quarantining high-risk contacts for 42 days after exposure, while advising low-risk contacts to self-monitor and seek medical care if symptoms develop.

On Friday, the WHO revised its case count to 10 from 11 after an inconclusive US case tested negative. Due to the long incubation period, the search for new cases could continue for months, testing authorities' post-Covid communications playbook. We'll probably figure something out and get on top of it again.