Breach of protocol: Dutch hospital quarantines 12 workers after hantavirus samples from cruise ship patient mishandled
A Dutch hospital in Nijmegen quarantined 12 staff members for six weeks after mishandling hantavirus samples from a cruise ship patient, while the WHO confirmed nine cases of the Andes strain, including a Spaniard and a US citizen. The luxury cruise ship *Hondius*, carrying 25 crew and medical staff, set sail for the Netherlands after disembarking passengers in Spain’s Canary Islands, with three deaths reported globally from the virus." "article": "A Dutch hospital, Radboudumc in Nijmegen, placed 12 staff members in quarantine for six weeks after blood and urine samples from a hantavirus patient were handled without strict protocols. The hospital stated the infection risk was low, and patient care remained unaffected. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed nine cases of the Andes strain of hantavirus, an increase of two from the previous day, though it did not specify the new cases. The outbreak originated on the luxury cruise ship *Hondius*, which sailed from Spain’s Canary Islands to the Netherlands after disembarking passengers. The ship, carrying 25 crew members, a doctor, and a nurse, is expected to arrive in the Netherlands by May 17. Authorities reported that two planes carrying 28 passengers and crew from the ship had already arrived in the Netherlands, with eight Dutch citizens among them. Three deaths have been linked to the virus, including a Dutch couple and a German national. The virus, typically spread by wild rodents, can rarely transmit person-to-person in close contact. The WHO identified two additional suspected cases—one fatal before testing and another on Tristan da Cunha—both managed under strict medical supervision. Spain confirmed a new case of a Spaniard in quarantine at a Madrid military hospital, while France reported a passenger in intensive care but stable. The US Department of Health and Human Services flew 18 passengers back to the US for quarantine, with one weakly positive case in a Nebraska biocontainment unit. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted the risk of further cases due to the virus’s long incubation period but emphasized no signs of a larger outbreak yet. Radboudumc’s executive board chair, Bertine Lahuis, announced an investigation into the protocol breach to prevent future incidents. Meanwhile, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised international cooperation and called for increased funding for global health organizations like the WHO.
A Dutch hospital, Radboudumc in Nijmegen, placed 12 staff members in quarantine for six weeks after blood and urine samples from a hantavirus patient were handled without strict protocols. The hospital stated the infection risk was low, and patient care remained unaffected. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed nine cases of the Andes strain of hantavirus, an increase of two from the previous day, though it did not specify the new cases. The outbreak originated on the luxury cruise ship *Hondius*, which sailed from Spain’s Canary Islands to the Netherlands after disembarking passengers. The ship, carrying 25 crew members, a doctor, and a nurse, is expected to arrive in the Netherlands by May 17. Authorities reported that two planes carrying 28 passengers and crew from the ship had already arrived in the Netherlands, with eight Dutch citizens among them. Three deaths have been linked to the virus, including a Dutch couple and a German national. The virus, typically spread by wild rodents, can rarely transmit person-to-person in close contact. The WHO identified two additional suspected cases—one fatal before testing and another on Tristan da Cunha—both managed under strict medical supervision. Spain confirmed a new case of a Spaniard in quarantine at a Madrid military hospital, while France reported a passenger in intensive care but stable. The US Department of Health and Human Services flew 18 passengers back to the US for quarantine, with one weakly positive case in a Nebraska biocontainment unit. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted the risk of further cases due to the virus’s long incubation period but emphasized no signs of a larger outbreak yet. Radboudumc’s executive board chair, Bertine Lahuis, announced an investigation into the protocol breach to prevent future incidents. Meanwhile, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised international cooperation and called for increased funding for global health organizations like the WHO.
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