The head of Oceanwide Expeditions says the information gathered to date about a deadly cluster of hantavirus cases “strongly” suggests the outbreak that hit his company’s cruise ship did not originate on the vessel itself.
In a statement published on Tuesday, Oceanwide Expeditions CEO Rémi Bouysset provided an update on the company’s efforts to manage the crisis resulting from the hantavirus infections aboard the MV Hondius that have claimed three lives to date and left others in critical condition.
While acknowledging the “human tragedy” that has occurred, Bouysset said it does not appear to have been initiated by the conditions of the vessel.
“The indications strongly suggest that the virus was introduced prior to embarkation and did not originate from the vessel itself,” Bouysset said in the statement.
“This is based on the medical and epidemiological information currently available, including guidance from WHO experts and relevant health authorities. Investigations remain ongoing regarding the exact location where the virus may have been contracted.”
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization, said Tuesday that there have been 11 reported hantavirus cases linked to the outbreak on the ship, including the three fatalities.
“Those numbers have changed little since the outbreak was first reported to WHO,” Ghebreyesus said, according to a published transcript of his remarks to the World Health Assembly in Geneva.
The WHO’s assessment “continues to be that the risk of hantavirus globally is low,” he said.
The cruise ship at the centre of the deadly hantavirus outbreak has reached the Netherlands and the staff is now in quarantine. The ship’s operator says it will now be disinfected and likely be back in service next month.
The MV Hondius docked in the Dutch port of Rotterdam on Monday. Oceanwide Expeditions had indicated Monday that no one left on board the ship had shown any symptoms of being ill.
Ghebreyesus said the crew that has disembarked will now be quarantined until June 29.
The ship’s remaining passengers — including some Canadians — had previously disembarked from the vessel on the Spanish island of Tenerife earlier this month.
Complete cleaning, sanitization underway
Bouysset said the company has worked through a three-step process since the onset of the crisis, and the final step is now in progress.
“The vessel will now undergo a complete cleaning and sanitization process, together with the full implementation of additional protocols, procedures, and a complete crew transition before returning to operations,” he said in the statement.
“We want to take the necessary time to complete every step properly and responsibly.”
Oceanwide Expeditions is based in the Netherlands. The MV Hondius is one of a handful of ships in its fleet, according to its website.
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