Trending Now - Cruise Ship Linked to Hantavirus Outbreak Faces Deep Cleaning
WHO:
NBC News - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the head of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Forbes - A Spanish citizen who was evacuated from the MV Hondius has tested positive for hantavirus weeks after leaving the ship.
Global News - Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles warned residents of Spain who do not voluntarily isolate may face legal measures to protect public health.
AP News - Oceanwide Expeditions operates the cruise ship MV Hondius.
AP News - Yvonne van Duijnhoven is the director of public health in Rotterdam.
Global News - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Global News - Jan Dobrogowski is the captain of the MV Hondius.
WHAT:
NBC News - The total number of hantavirus cases linked to the cruise ship has increased to 13, with three deaths reported, and no new deaths since May 2.
Forbes - Oceanwide Expeditions announced that two scheduled voyages for the MV Hondius have been canceled, but the ship will resume its charters with a trip around the Svalbard islands starting June 13.
Global News - The Health Ministry confirmed that the new positive case corresponds to a close contact identified during the epidemiological follow-up.
AP News - The MV Hondius is undergoing extra cleaning due to a hantavirus outbreak.
AP News - There have been 12 reported hantavirus cases and three deaths associated with the outbreak.
Global News - A new case of hantavirus has been confirmed in a person in preventive quarantine at Gómez Ulla Hospital.
Global News - The patient is one of 14 Spanish nationals who were aboard the MV Hondius and has been in quarantine since May 10.
Global News - The Health Ministry confirmed that a Spanish passenger tested positive for hantavirus on May 12.
Global News - Oceanwide Expeditions stated that all voyages from June 13 onwards will proceed as scheduled.
WHERE:
AP News - The MV Hondius is returning to its home port in Vlissingen, Netherlands, after undergoing additional cleaning procedures.
Forbes - The MV Hondius is set to carry passengers around the Svalbard islands near the North Pole.
AP News - The MV Hondius returned to the port city of Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Global News - The affected individual is quarantined at Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid, Spain.
WHEN:
AP News - The MV Hondius is scheduled to depart for its next trip around the Svalbard islands on June 13, 2026.
Forbes - The MV Hondius is scheduled to depart for its next trip on June 13.
AP News - The MV Hondius returned to Rotterdam early last week.
AP News - The ship had an Arctic cruise scheduled to sail from Keflavik, Iceland, on May 29.
Global News - The first confirmed case of hantavirus was reported on May 12.
Global News - The Health Ministry stated that the patient will remain in isolation for 42 days.
WHY:
AP News - Additional cleaning was advised by the GGD local health authority based on inspection findings.
Global News - The new positive case was identified during epidemiological follow-up after the initial outbreak detection.
HOW:
AP News - The GGD local health authority advised additional cleaning of the MV Hondius based on inspection findings before it can depart from Rotterdam.
AP News - The MV Hondius will be disinfected using chlorine and peroxide over the next week.
AP News - The cleaning and disinfection of the MV Hondius is being conducted following advice from health authorities.
Global News - The patient was transferred to a high-level isolation unit for specialized medical supervision.
(UPDATED May 27, 2026 17:59 UTC)
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, is addressing a concerning rise in hantavirus cases linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, which has now reached a total of 13, including three fatalities, with no new deaths reported since May 2. The ship is currently returning to its home port in Vlissingen, Netherlands, after undergoing additional cleaning procedures as advised by the local health authority following inspection findings. Looking ahead, the MV Hondius is scheduled to set sail for its next trip around the Svalbard islands on June 13, 2026.
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(UPDATED May 27, 2026 14:53 UTC)
A Spanish citizen who was evacuated from the MV Hondius has tested positive for hantavirus weeks after leaving the ship, prompting Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles to warn that residents who do not voluntarily isolate may face legal measures. In response, Oceanwide Expeditions has canceled two scheduled voyages for the MV Hondius, but the ship is set to resume charters with a trip around the Svalbard islands on June 13, following a thorough disinfection process using chlorine and peroxide. The Health Ministry confirmed that this new positive case is linked to a close contact identified during the epidemiological follow-up.
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(UPDATED May 27, 2026 08:23 UTC)
The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions and captained by Jan Dobrogowski, is currently undergoing extensive cleaning due to a hantavirus outbreak that has resulted in 12 reported cases and three fatalities. One of the affected individuals, a Spanish national who was aboard the ship, has been in preventive quarantine at Gómez Ulla Hospital since May 10, following a positive test for hantavirus on May 12. Despite these challenges, Oceanwide Expeditions has confirmed that all voyages from June 13 onwards will proceed as scheduled.