The crew member of the MV Hondius cruise ship who has recently tested positive for hantavirus while in quarantine in the Netherlands has been taken to hospital, Dutch authorities said Friday.
“The Andes virus has been detected in one person who was in quarantine in the Netherlands. The patient has since been admitted to the hospital as a precaution and is in isolation,” said the RIVM (Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment).
The Andes virus is the version of hantavirus that can jump from human to human.
Everyone evacuated from the Dutch-flagged ship to the Netherlands is tested every week. The positive test was confirmed by two separate laboratories, the RIVM said.
The person who tested positive had been in home quarantine, according to authorities, who urged calm.
“The RIVM understands that this news may raise questions or concerns. However, the chance of further spread in the Netherlands remains very small,” the statement said.
The World Health Organization confirmed earlier Friday that the Netherlands had reported an additional case of the hantavirus that broke out on the Hondius.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there were now 12 suspected and confirmed cases in total, including three deaths.
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