12.05.2026, 08:54
In the Netherlands, 12 health workers were quarantined due to errors when working with hantavirus
Source: OREANDA-NEWS
OREANDA-NEWS Twelve employees of the Radboud Medical Center in Nijmegen (the Netherlands) were sent to a six-week quarantine after violating protocols when working with a patient infected with hantavirus. This is reported by the Dutch media.
According to the hospital, the patient, who was admitted on May 7 and was a passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship, where an outbreak of the virus had previously been recorded, underwent a standard procedure for blood collection and treatment, although due to the characteristics of the hantavirus, an enhanced biosafety regime was required. It later became clear that the current international regulations were not followed when disposing of urine.
"Despite the extremely low probability of infection, 12 employees have been quarantined for six weeks as a precaution," the medical center said.
The management of the medical center announced the start of an internal investigation. The hospital has declared its readiness to accept new patients if necessary.
In April, the MV Hondius liner under the flag of the Netherlands left the city of Ushuaia (Argentina) and headed for the Canary Islands. There were about 150 people on board, including citizens of the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States. On April 6, a 70‑year-old Dutch citizen felt unwell and subsequently died. His wife, who came ashore on St. Helena Island, died on April 26 in South Africa, where tests confirmed infection with hantavirus. A German citizen died on the ship on May 2.
On May 10, the evacuation of MV Hondius passengers began in Tenerife. All the tourists who came ashore were tested for the virus. According to WHO, about ten people have tested positive for hantavirus. It was noted that a strain of hantavirus, the Andes virus, was detected in the deceased woman and a British man who is in the intensive care unit in South Africa. Only this type of hantavirus is transmitted from person to person. Western media reported that this strain is common in Latin America, including Argentina, where the cruise began.
According to the hospital, the patient, who was admitted on May 7 and was a passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship, where an outbreak of the virus had previously been recorded, underwent a standard procedure for blood collection and treatment, although due to the characteristics of the hantavirus, an enhanced biosafety regime was required. It later became clear that the current international regulations were not followed when disposing of urine.
"Despite the extremely low probability of infection, 12 employees have been quarantined for six weeks as a precaution," the medical center said.
The management of the medical center announced the start of an internal investigation. The hospital has declared its readiness to accept new patients if necessary.
In April, the MV Hondius liner under the flag of the Netherlands left the city of Ushuaia (Argentina) and headed for the Canary Islands. There were about 150 people on board, including citizens of the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States. On April 6, a 70‑year-old Dutch citizen felt unwell and subsequently died. His wife, who came ashore on St. Helena Island, died on April 26 in South Africa, where tests confirmed infection with hantavirus. A German citizen died on the ship on May 2.
On May 10, the evacuation of MV Hondius passengers began in Tenerife. All the tourists who came ashore were tested for the virus. According to WHO, about ten people have tested positive for hantavirus. It was noted that a strain of hantavirus, the Andes virus, was detected in the deceased woman and a British man who is in the intensive care unit in South Africa. Only this type of hantavirus is transmitted from person to person. Western media reported that this strain is common in Latin America, including Argentina, where the cruise began.
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