The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged polar expedition cruise ship, experienced an outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus causing at least 11 infections and three deaths among passengers and crew [1, 2, 3]. The ship left Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1 and the outbreak was first reported near Antarctica in late April to early May [4, 5, 2, 3].

Passengers and crew were evacuated to several countries, including Australia, the UK, Netherlands, Spain, Canada, and France [6, 7, 1, 5, 2, 3, 8]. Australia has quarantined six evacuees at a 500-bed facility near Perth for at least three weeks; all have tested negative and remain asymptomatic. Australian Health Minister Mark Butler said, "Those six people will be transferred immediately to that quarantine facility directly next door to the RAAF base," and emphasized the strict protocols with full PPE during flights [6, 1, 9, 10]. The quarantine period of three weeks is based on hantavirus's incubation of up to 42 days, although Australia has not decided next steps after this initial isolation [6, 9, 10].

The MV Hondius is sailing back to Rotterdam, expected to arrive May 18. The 25 crew members remaining on board will then quarantine for six weeks while the ship undergoes disinfection [1, 5, 2]. UK evacuees who initially isolated at Arrowe Park Hospital were discharged after negative tests and placed under 45-day home isolation with health monitoring. Professor Robin May from UKHSA said officials are coordinating to repatriate British nationals isolating on Ascension Island [7].

In Canada, a passenger from British Columbia preliminarily tested positive and is isolated. Ten other Canadians remain in quarantine across provinces [2]. British Columbia's Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry noted, "Hantavirus does not have pandemic potential and the public should not be alarmed." Legal experts say passengers have limited grounds to sue the cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions without proof of gross negligence; no lawsuits have been reported [4].

In response to the outbreak, Penang's Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal in Malaysia has increased sanitation and rodent control measures. Commission chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said, "Although no cases have been reported in Malaysia, we are taking the development seriously to safeguard passengers, crew members and the local community." [11]

Quarantine protocols vary internationally: Australia uses a dedicated facility with three-week isolation and full PPE transfer; the UK has longer home isolation of 45 days; the Netherlands mandates six weeks of quarantine for crew and some self-isolation for passengers; France places some evacuees in biocontainment units for at least two weeks [6, 7, 1, 9, 5, 8, 10].

The MV Hondius is expected in Rotterdam May 18 where the ship will be disinfected and crew quarantined for six weeks [5, 2]. Australian evacuees remain under observation at the Perth facility pending completion of their quarantine period.