23 passengers from MV Hondius cruise ship return home; one tests positive for virus

At least 23 passengers who disembarked from the MV Hondius cruise ship have returned to their home countries, including the United States, according to reports cited by the New York Post. One of those passengers has since tested positive for hantavirus after returning home, raising concerns about potential international spread linked to the ongoing outbreak aboard the vessel.

The Hondius has been at the center of a multi-country health scare after a suspected hantavirus outbreak, which has already resulted in multiple infections and several deaths. Health authorities are now conducting contact tracing across several continents as passengers who left the ship before the alert continue to be monitored.

Officials and the World Health Organization say the risk to the general public remains low, but emphasize that the situation is still under active investigation due to the virus’s incubation period and the global movement of passengers.