The hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius is now set to have a direct Irish public health response after the Department of Health confirmed that two Irish nationals onboard the cruise ship are expected to quarantine in Ireland once they return home.
The vessel, which departed Ushuaia in southern Argentina in March, is carrying almost 150 passengers and crew and is expected to dock in Tenerife in the Canary Islands within days. Spanish authorities have said that those still onboard are not currently showing symptoms of the disease.
In a statement, the Department of Health said plans are now being developed alongside the HSE, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and European health authorities to manage the return of the two Irish passengers, although any final decision will depend on their medical condition at the time of disembarkation.
At a minimum, officials said the pair will likely need to quarantine in Ireland in line with guidance from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and will be actively monitored throughout that period.
The department said decisions on where quarantine will take place will be made on a case-by-case basis. If either passenger develops symptoms, they will be medically assessed and treated as appropriate.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, spoke to the Washington Post and added much needed context. “This is not the next Covid, but it is a serious infectious disease. Most people will never be exposed to this.”
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Authorities also confirmed that Ireland’s National Incidence Management Team within the National Health Protection Office (NHPO) has now been activated to coordinate the country’s public health response to the outbreak.
Officials said preparations are underway to ensure “appropriate follow-up and care” for the two Irish citizens onboard the ship, while broader measures are also being considered to protect public health once the vessel docks.
The Department of Health said that additional health certification, passenger assessments and potentially further testing may be required once the ship arrives in Tenerife before passengers are allowed to travel onward.
In a statement, the department said: “The situation with regard to the MV Hondius is an evolving situation which is being monitored closely by the Department of Health and the National Health Protection Office (NHPO) in the Health Service Executive (HSE) working with international partners including the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).”
The Department of Foreign Affairs also confirmed it is currently providing consular assistance to the Irish citizens aboard the vessel.
The outbreak has drawn growing international attention after the World Health Organization confirmed earlier this week that several passengers from different European countries had been evacuated from the ship for treatment following suspected hantavirus infections.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease usually spread through contact with infected rodents or their droppings. Symptoms can initially resemble flu-like illness, including fever, fatigue and muscle aches, but in severe cases it can lead to serious respiratory complications. Human-to-human transmission is considered extremely rare depending on the strain involved.
The MV Hondius expedition cruise had been travelling in the Antarctic region before concerns emerged about possible infections onboard, prompting a multinational public health response involving several European countries.
