The MV Hondius vessel has docked in Rotterdam, where 27 passengers are in quarantine after an outbreak of hantavirus.

The cruise ship MV Hondius, involved in an outbreak of hantavirus, arrived on Monday at the Dutch port of Rotterdam, where authorities quarantined the last 27 passengers. On board the ship were approximately 150 people from 23 countries, and the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the first cases of severe respiratory illnesses on May 2. Three people have died, and the bodies of two Dutch citizens have been repatriated, while a German victim will be cremated in the Netherlands.

WHO has confirmed eight cases of hantavirus, emphasizing that the threat to public health is low, in comparison to the COVID-19 epidemic. Dutch authorities have assured that there is no risk to the population of Rotterdam, and exposed individuals are being monitored. The ship has been disinfected by a specialized company, and the process could take a week. The outbreak involves the Andes virus, a known strain from South America.